The Cat's Tale: Why the Years Are Named For Animals, by Doris Orgel

Illustrated by Meilo So

Rating: Marginal

Roaring Brook Press, 2008, $17.95

Age/Grade Level: Ages 4-8

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The story is a children's version of how the Chinese calendar was named for twelve different animals. Willow, a young girl, is told the story by her grandmother until the little girl's precocious cat, Mao, takes over the telling. The story tells of the race between the animals to be named an animal of the Chinese calendar. The writing style of the author is somewhat difficult to follow, and I think the book will have a hard time keeping the attention of young readers. it is too wordy for a storytime, and the illustrations are presented in a very busy manner. The traditional tale is interrupted several times by the search for Willow's stuffed pig, creating more confusion within the book.

Reviewer: Elisabeth Ellis, OCPL/Stanton

Tyrannoclaus, by Janet Lawler

Illustrated by John Shroades

Rating: Marginal

HarperCollins, 2009, $16.99

ISBN: 978-0-06-1170546

Age/Grade Level: Ages 4-8

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Tyrannoclaus is the story of a Tyrannosaurus Rex serving as a dino-version of Santa Claus for all the dinosaur children. It follows the model of the classic holiday tale 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. In this fractured version of the tale, Tyrannoclaus and his helpers are busy preparing for Christmas when the volcano crater they are working in begins to erupt. Tyrannoclaus and his helpers must rush to escape impending doom and safely deliver gifts to all the young dinosaurs.

What child doesn't love T-Rex and Christmas? Well, I think a child who experienced this book might find it a big disappointing. The cover art for this book made me very hopeful, but when I started reading it I was disappointed by the contrived rhyming that was used so that the story would mimic the classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I am sure young children will appreciate the illustrations in the book, with brightly colored dinosaurs, but the text and flow of the story are lacking in what could have been a great picture book.

Reviewer: Kristine Russell, OCPL/Ladera Ranch

Bandit, by Karen Rostoker-Gruber

Illustrated by Vincent Nguyen


Rating: Marginal


Marshall Cavendish, 2008, $15.99


ISBN: 978-0761453826


Age/Grade level: Ages 4-8

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Bandit the cat is distrubed from his sleep. Strangers are moving furniture. He doesn't understand why there are boxes everywhere and why Michelle put him in his cat carrier and then drives him away. It seems that Michelle isn't going to take him to see Vet, which is good. The bad thing is: Bandit finds himself in a strange house where he couldn't find anything comforting. Without a moment of hesitation, Bandit takes action--he is going back to the place he's familiar with. But the streets are far from friendly. Will Bandit and Michelle reunite?





The attraction of this book, to me, is the illustration. The main character, Bandit, is expressive and full of babbles of thoughts. The Pop Art illustration catches the reader's eyes. Suspense is building up through the story as readers follow the very territorial Bandit on his way to his old place. Alghough this simple story can serve as a conversation starter for families with young children that are going to move, the simplicity of the plot is not consistent with the sophisticated illustration style, which leads me to believe there is more to the story.





Reviewer: Zhen (Tracy) Li, Orange County Public Library, Laguna Niguel

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

The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West, by Sid Fleischman

Rating: Marginal

Greenwillow, 2008, $18.99
ISBN: 978-0061344312

Age/Grade Level: ages 9 to 12

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This biography of Mark Twain was written by a Newbery medalist and generally received good reviews. It should be a sure selection. However, the unappealing writing style and seeming contradictions cited throughout the book make it a marginal choice for the library’s collection. Fleischman’s prose is tedious and unduly verbose. There is very little flow and children would find the text very difficult to follow. Although extensively and thoroughly cited, it seems as though the author constructed this entire book around a random selection of quotations that he found in other works. He is extremely subjective in certain parts of the book taking far too much artistic liberty- an act that he later tries to defend. (p.177) But the most glaring problem with the book is that it is full of contradications. For example, Fleischman states that Twain became depressed and gloomy near the end of his life. “His bleak view of life became as frozen and fixed as the north star”. (p.171) But less than a page later he writes that “Twain was never able to abandon his gift for laughter.”

Overall, the book does not capture the essence of Twain’s life or his works. The prolix descriptions will turn away young and old readers alike. The only redeeming qualities to this biography are wonderful illustrations, a very good timeline, and a chapter that includes one of Twain’s stories, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”.

Reviewer: Sarah Stimson, Orange County Public Library/Irvine University Park

Prom Kings and Drama Queens, by Dorian Cirrone

Rating: Marginal

HarperTeen, 2008, $17.99
ISBN: 9780061143731

Age/Grade Level: Teen

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Emily is on the school newspaper staff and wants to be the editor during her senior year. A boy on the newspaper staff has a crush on Emily. She has a crush on the next-door neighbor boy.

I thought this book could have been a good story if the characters had been developed a bit more. Emily befriends the next door neighbor's grandmother, but their friendship didn't really grab me. Nor did the relationship Emily has with her crush, Brian. The author really needed to write another hundred pages or so developing relationships and characters.

Reviewer: Kim Bell, Orange County Public Library/Cypress Branch

The Greatest Story Never Told, by Ray Negron

Illustrated by Laura Seeley

Rating: Marginal
HarperCollins, 2008, $17.99

ISBN: 9780061471612
Age/Grade Level: Ages 6-8

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A well-meaning but awkward picture book that will have the greatest appeal to serious baseball fans. Hospital roommates Skippy and Connor, one black and one white, don't get along. Then Yankees batboy Ray takes them on a magic trip to meet Babe Ruth and Jackie robinson, who make them realize that they can be friends despite their differences. A former Yankees batboy himself, author Negron manages a cameo appearance for his current employer, Yankee manager George Steinbrenner (The Boss). This story belongs in the Yankee Stadium gift shop, but most libraries can live without it.

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

Pirates Drive Buses, by Christopher Morgan

Illustrated by Neil Curtis

Rating: Marginal
Roaring Brook Press, 2007, $15.95

ISBN: 978-1596433137
Age/Grade Level: 1st and 2nd grades

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The illustration on the front of the book gave me great hope. However, as I started reading it, I was disappointed. The story was nonsensical, but the illustrations are great. I think 1st and 2nd graders might like the nonsense of this short book, but I didn't.

Reviewer: Kim Bell, Orange County Public Library/Cypress Branch

Big and Bad, by Etienne Delessert

Rating: Marginal

Houghton Mifflin, 2008, $17.00

ISBN: 978-0618889341
Age/Grade Level: 4-8

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A twist on the "Three Little Pigs" story, the animals fear that the appetite of the ravenous wolf will soon devour the planet. They devise a plan, consisted of three different types of houses, culminating to the wolf trying to make it down the chimney of the brick house only to end up a fiery ball forever circling the earth. This is definitely an interesting concept, though I have several concerns: the cover shows three pigs lighting another animal with a match. I have a great apprehension about featuring this illustration on our library shelves. Also, I would recommend the story for the 6-8 age range, though it says age 4 would be appropriate, because the illustrations along with wolf's frightening habits may be unsuitable for children that young.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Sleepover Larry by Daniel Pinkwater

Rating: Marginal

Marshall Cavendish, 2007, $16.99

ISBN: 0761453148

Age/Grade Level: 1st-3rd grade

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This story about a polar bear who wants to have a sleepover with his friends from the zoo is at best okay. The illustrations are not great. The story itself is okay. The bear has a sleepover and nothing really great happens except maybe for the food they eat (codfish cakes, blueberry muffins, codfish pizza, anchovies). Not a book I would highly recommend.

Reviewer: Kim Bell, Orange County Public Library/Cypress Branch

How the Ladies Stopped the Wind, by Bruce McMillan

Illustrated by Gunnella
Rating: Marginal
Houghton Mifflin, 2007, $16.00

ISBN: 978-0618773305
Age Level: 4-8

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This is what I would categorize as a "nice" story. There is nothing overly entertaining, nor is it truly boring, there just really is not much to this tale either way. Though it is a relatively simple story about planting and maintaining trees to keep out strong Icelandic winds, some parts are convoluted and a touch confusing. There are parts in the story, such as when the cows become upset with their chicken friends, that have the reader expecting something to really HAPPEN, but in the end these anecdotes amount to little. A "nice" little story with a feel-good ending, but nothing shouts out about these "Ladies" either way.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Pink Refrigerator by Tim Egan

Houghton Mifflin, 2007, $16.00

0618631542
Age/Grade Level: Primary

Rating: Marginal

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A very preachy story about taking steps to break out of a very safe, uninspiring existence. Short directives are left posted on a pink refrigerator at the junkyard, and they somehow pull Dodsworth into the world of creative expression and possibility. Sophisticated message, with very little fun or imagination used to let the story be enjoyed on more than one level. Not something a child would pull down off the shelf to read a second time unless he had an affection for pink refrigerators.

Reviewer: Cathy Gillette, Orange County Public Library/La Habra branch

Tsunami Warning by Taylor Morrison

Rating: Marginal

Houghton Mifflin, 2007, $17.00
ISBN: 978-0618734634
Age Level: 9-12

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Tsunami Warning is great--for needlessly scaring children. The illustrations are devastatingly beautiful as they depict extremely realistic scenes of destruction and near death. These pictures are so detailed that one wonders why real pictures of the disaster were not used instead. Additionally, the reader may struggle with exactly what this book is teaching us about: the science of tsunami warning systems, or the heroism of the Coast and Geodetic Society. Granted, there is nothing wrong with writing a story to celebrate some unsung hero, but why then should the book pretend to do otherwise? I question both the subject motive and the wisdom of making it in a picture book form, because I fear it will trick a younger reader who will later be rewarded with nightmares of these crashing death waves.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Emma Dilemma and the Two Nannies by Patricia Hermes

Illustrated by Vera Soki

Rating: Marginal
Marshall Cavendish, 2007, $15.99
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5353-6
Age Level: 9-12 years
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I have seen this character of Emma Dilemma be compared to Junie B. and Ramona, but I feel that Emma is much less entertaining. While Emma has the same types of thoughts and feelings as many children her age, she lacks that extra spark that both Junie and Ramona have. This lack of spark carries throughout the story, which is too long for the end result. The ending has a very nice message, but one that was simple enough to not need over 100 pages of almost humorless misadventure. Overall, this Emma Dilemma tale feels like real life, and what is the purpose of reading the ordinary?

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Dear Miss Perfect: A Beast's Guide to Proper Behavoir by Sandra Dutton

Rating: Marginal

Houghton Mifflin, 2007, $16.00

ISBN: 978-0618677177

Age Level: 4-8 years

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Two things struck me before I even started reading the story: the different fonts are too light and hard to read, and illustrations are too pastel and do not add anything to the story. The story itself is cute often comical, and even has a great message about being polite. However, because it is a series of questioning letters and answers from Miss Perfect, there is no cohesive tale that runs throughout. Also, the ending is a bit depressing when we find out that Miss Perfect is lonely. Overall, the nature of the book alone almost guarantees that only girls would be interested, and without a real story here, even they may lose interest.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library

Dog and Bear by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Rating: Marginal
Roaring Brook Press, 2007, $12.95
ISBN: 978-1-59643-053-2
Age Level: 3-7 years

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An overly simplistic story, even for a children's book. It has three distinct sections, yet each one is short and lacking in substance. The illustrations are lively and original, but the same cannot be said either the characters or the story itself. Overall, not entertaining enough to keep the reader's interest.

Reviewer: Monica Barrette, Orange Public Library