Just Waiting for the Bell! by David Wehmeyer

Sometimes I run across a book that has me chuckling from the first page all the way through to the last sentence. But seldom do I find one that does that and gives me hope, inspiration and a general nice feeling about life. This was most certainly one of those reads!

I recently wrote a review on a marvelous collection of inspirational stories from teachers. And I made the statement in that review that beyond a doubt teachers play the most important role in our society today-- bar none.

As I look back over my past, beginning with kindergarten and attending grad school, on through a very fulfilling work career and delightfully exciting and even more fulfilling personal life, raising a family and living in general, I realized that no group of people, family included, has had more influence on my life; every aspect of my life! I am what I am today because of my teachers. I have also observed the state of life of teaches for many years now. I can think of no profession that is quite so under paid, under appreciated, has a more day in and day out grinding task to perform, and so much responsibility. Those “easy jobs” where you only work part of the year and have summers “off” are a complete myth. A teacher is “on” 24/7, three hundred sixty five days of the year.

David Wehmeyer has been an elementary school administrator for over eighteen years now and has been nice enough to share some of his experiences in this position with us with this little work. This is a collection of short recollections of his trials, tribulations, victories and inspirational events that have marked his wonderful career. I must admit that I found myself chuckling from the first to the last page when I read this work, and at the same time found myself profoundly grateful that we have such men and women guiding our children through a most difficult period in their lives. The book, while certainly funny, was also quite comforting.

Mr. Wehmeyer uses a nice crisp prose to tell his story. Nothing fancy, simply quite readable. The author has the wonderful ability to laugh at himself and his foibles which adds an extra charm to the book. He also gives us a very comprehensive inside look into just what administrators and teachers face on a daily basis and it is bound to increase the admiration and respect we should all hold for these wonderfully dedicated people.

The book is broken down into 27 short chapters, each being the separate story taken from the author’s work life as a school administrator. The subject matter is wide, the experiences quite varied and I must say, rather surprising. He address aspects of this important job that those not familiar with the system may not consider; ducks in the hall, tattooed hostile parents and their hostile kids, snow days in Texas, the unenviable task of presenting the “puberty talk” to fifth graders, obnoxious local press, becoming a hot-dog and a plethora of other events we normally would not associate with this position. All these and more are masterfully handled by the author with a sense of humor and positive outlook.

Simply put…this book is well written and was a pure joy to read.

This work would of course make an ideal gift for any school principal, teacher or young person contemplating becoming a teacher. It is a book that should also be read my any parent or grandparent of school age children.

I do highly recommend this read!

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Just Waiting for the Bell!

• Accelerated Reading level : none found
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Tate Publishing (December 22, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1607999773

Messy Tessy by Leah Orr

I must say that I read this wonderful little book by Leah Orr with a smile on my face and a whimsical nostalgic feeling in my heart. Being a father of a wonderful daughter and the grandfather of four wonderful grandchildren who have been a big part in our lives, I could so very much identify with this work. Little Messy Tessy is quite like my daughter was at that age; even sort of looks like her. That daughter, by the way, has been teaching first grade for over twenty years now, so her "messy ways" certainly did not have a detrimental impact on her life.

This is an extremely well written little book for the wee ones. The text is done in a rhyming fashion with a series of well crafted couplets. Now these are not couplets of the nonsense nature with nonsense words...no, no, no! These are extremely well done and a lot of thought has been put into them; they actually tell a story! When you have an author that can write, and write well, and who has an obvious deep knowledge of her subject, i.e. kids in general, little girls in specific, then you have a sure fire winner on your hands.

The story here is simple but oh so true and oh so typical. Tessy is left in the care of her aunt while her mom goes to the gym. It is in the nature of aunts to fall asleep during such times, and it is the nature of little girls and little boys to take advantage of that situation. Messy Tessy indeed! There was not one trick our messy little girl tried that my daughter did not try at that age; as a matter of fact, not one trick each of my grandsons did not try when "grandpa" was babysitting them, and like the aunt, fell asleep on the job!

And let's take a look at the illustrations in this work. Well done! Each plate is done in what appears to be colored pencil and at first glance is quite simple. The reader needs to take a closer look though. Simple they might seem, but they are so very well executed and there is so much more detail in each offering than one would first guess. The colors and blends of colors are actually quite sophisticated and I was so glad that the three characters in the book were not dressed to the hilt, and heaven forbid, color coordinated! Hey folks, that is not real life! This is good art work on display here and the artist has done a very professional job. The pictures go perfectly with the text.

This is a delightful read-along book which portrays a child being a child with no preachy pretense what so every...something I have become a bit concerned with of late with children's literature. Kids need to the kids and the author has let little Tessy be one. I like that! It is also obvious, which the reader can tell just via the nuances found page after page, that this child is loved. I liked that too!

It should be noted that all profits from this book go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, to help fight this horrific disease and condition. I cannot think of a better organization to benefit.

Anyway, we have some good writing here, good art work, a great read along book and one that will not drive the adult reader out of their minds when they have to read it over and over again. What more could you ask for? I only hope we will hear much more from this author and artist in the future...there is some real talent on display here!

Add this one to your child's library; it is bound to be a big hit.


Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Messy Tessy

• Accelerated Reading level : none found
  
• Paperback: 36 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (August 18, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 1438993986

Mrs. Merriwether's Musical Cat by Carol Purdy

This is one of those works that will bring a smile to your lips and a little lift to your heart no matter your age. Even though it was written for children, the adult reader will enjoy the story and illustrations just as much as the young reader.

Mrs. Merriwether is quite an ordinary lady, living quite an ordinary life in an ordinary house. Folks, we are talking dull here! The exception is that on each Tuesday she provides piano lessons and has three students. First there is Morton Highbrow who butchers Bach and Brahms. Then we have Florence who makes a mess of every waltz she ever played and finally there is Rhonda Rockwell who, while loving to play the Top Forty, has absolutely no talent what so ever. Mrs. Merriwether, and her neighbors I might add, simply tries to endure!

All this changes though when a large and fat stray cat leaps onto the piano from the open window and begins waving its tail in time to the music Mrs. Merriwether is playing. Suddenly our teacher can play like she has never played before and come next Tuesday; she finds the cat's presence completely changes the children's play also! It also makes a profound difference in the rest of our bored teacher's life! Mrs. Merriwether is happy, the families of the children are happy, the entire neighborhood is happy, including Mr. Grump next door...who is never happy!

All is well until one day the cat, now named Beethoven, disappears and.....

Gosh folks, no spoilers here! You are going to have to find and read this one yourself!

This one was written and published in 1994 and has aged very well. The text is very near perfect and goes wonderfully with some excellent illustrations. These two, Carol Purdy and Petra Mathers make a very good team.

This book is an ideal read a long or good for a group read. It is of general interest, but for those who teach music, love cats or are taking music lessons, it will be special.


Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Mrs. Merriwether's Musical Cat

• Accelerated Reading level : none found
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (February 24, 1997)
• ISBN-10: 0698115988

THE LAND OF EXPRESSION by Mutiya and David Vision

There are some wonderful lessons to be learned in this rather uniquely crafted and written book; food for thought for both the young reader and I might add, older one also! This is one of those children’s books which will cause you to stop and think. The overall message is strong and in this case laid out in a very logical and true manner.

In the Land of Expression everything is controlled, monitored, accepted, not accepted and regulated by color. As the book tells us “It seemed like all of the colors worked together in order to create reality.” But did they? (Note: Just a tip…at this point the reader needs to take a very close look at the brilliant colors used to illustrate this book! Note the shades, highlights and blends) Is “reality” for those who cannot see, and those who do not understand really reality? Well, we find out when the color black shows up! Oh my! All of the other colors scatter and run. They are fearful! There is something different! The story tells us that black was so distinctive, that the other colors did not know how to blend with him! They were fearful and I might add a bit hysterical…mindless, mindless, and mindless!

Things do not go well for the color of black after this initial shock. He is feared, he is rejected, and he becomes to doubt his own self-worth. On some level black becomes to believe some of the horrid things the other colors are saying about him. Black found he was completely alone with nowhere to go; a complete outcast. This was a sad, sad state of affairs!

But then the Mother-Father Creator looked down and saw how badly black was being mistreated and because they had created black with all of the other colors, simply removed him to a better place.

Through word and absolutely wonderful illustrations which are expertly executed, the other colors of the world, and indeed the reader of this book, begin to realize just what happens if the color of black is removed. It is not a very pretty sight I am here to tell you! Now not being one to throw in spoilers into his reviews, I will stop here. Rest assured though that many people, i.e. colors in this case, quickly realize what they have done and the Creators take appropriate measures to set things right again.

The message of this story is quite strong and quite obvious, I feared too much so when I began reading this work, but the authors and artist have been able to make their point without getting into your face or being preachy and gushy. I liked that. Of course having dabbled a bit in color myself, I fully understand what would happen to my pallet without black. The reader has only to look at any great work of art to realize this and children, being much brighter than we give them credit for, will realize the same.

Of course the author’s have used this as a vehicle to make a wonderful and rightful point. It is a small step to transfer this concept of color, or absence of color, to race, culture, ethnicity and society in general and specifically.

America is beyond a doubt one of the most powerful countries in history. Very few cultures have come as far as we have. It is an exciting place to live. Think of our food, clothing, literature, music, art, inventiveness, and on and on. There is a reason for this strength. We are one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse countries in history; coincidence? I don’t think so. Imagine if you will a country without this diversity, and there are a few out there…I know, I have seen them…boring, boring, boring! I had to laugh when I read this work. I am an old white guy. Can you imagine a country made up of just old white guys? Blah…dull, dull, dull! Until just a few years ago, if that state of being existed here, we would have had to change the name of our entire country to “Congress.” Yuk.

This is one of the most interesting children’s books I have read in quite some time now. A teacher or parent could and should be able to get a lot of mileage out of this one. The author’s are obviously natural story tellers and are able to articulate their stories perfectly through the written word. They and the illustrator are in perfect harmony with their message. The art work in this little book is absolutely brilliant!

This one should be on the shelf of ever school library and on the shelf on any thoughtful child. I do highly recommend it.


Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Land Of Expression

Accelerated Reading level : none found

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Vision Works Publishing (November 1, 2009)
• ISBN-10: 0981625401

THE LITTLE ISLAND by Golden MacDonald

The Little Island by Golden MacDonald and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard has been around since at least 1946; had reprints in 1974 and any number of bootlegged, illegal copies made and sold throughout the years. There is a reason for this! This book is actually good! The story, more about that later, is beautifully done and the art work is different enough; quirky enough to appeal to children, and I might add open minded adults, down through the years.

The story is rather timeless and at first glance rather simple. We have a very small island inhabited by various creatures and plants and sea critters. The little island is subject to the changes in the seasons. This little island is actually a microcosm of our planted, and even the most thick witted can spot this fact after only a few pages. Kids, unlike some adults, are quite a bit brighter than we give them credit for; more open to the use of the possible and impossible, and pick up on this fact rather quickly. The author’s prose is actually comforting in its rhythm and cadence. Following is an example:

The morning was quiet
on the Island
with only the spiders sailing their webs
against a gentle wind.

Boats sailed to the little island
from far away
and herring and mackerel
leaped out of the water
all silver in the moon light.
The seaweed squeaked at low tide
and the little green pears grew on the pear tree.
A black crow flew over.

When you read these words, simple as they are, and then shut your eyes, you can actually visualize the little island just setting there, doing its thing, and doing what islands do best.

The story continues with a visit from a boat which caries with it a small cat. The cat, a curious creature, explores the island, making cat observations, as cats will. The story of the island and its inhabitants are more or less shown and told through the cats eyes. The child learns of the trees; the pear tree, fish, lobsters, insects, flowers and birds. There is an absolutely delicious picture of two Kingfishers that are an absolute delight. It does not take much of a leap to understand, or at least gather a feeling of the circle of nature in this work. When the cat leaves with the boat, the island continues to be an island and all is the same. There is an eternal flow about this work that is quite comforting.

Now very few have been able to say a critical word as to the writing ability of MacDonald. There are those that are not all that happy with the art work of Weisgard though. The reader MUST remember when these pictures were made and put them in the proper context of the times. They must also gaze at the paintings through the eyes of a child rather than that of a “sophisticated” adult art critic; no, no, no…this is a big mistake to do so! Keep in mind that this was written and illustrated for children; young children at that. It is a big mistake to judge a children’s book by either it’s age or worse yet, it’s appeal to the logical minded adult.

For children ages 4-8

PLANET OF THE DOGS by Robert J. McCarty

I love this series of books and this first, Planet of the Dogs, sets the stage for those works that follow. The earth, during the time this story takes place, is taken from a time past. It would be difficult to nail the exact era in which the story takes place, but medieval would probably be the closest call. Anyway, the people of earth at that time were without dogs. The people at that time were loosing the ability to love and to be loyal. This of course is where the dogs come in. The dogs of Planet of the Dogs live in complete harmony. They do not lie, cheat, steal or have any of the other bad traits we humans have. The dogs become aware of the problems on Earth and decide to take action.

This story boarders between reality, a dream world, fantasy, fiction, reality and wonderful imagination. People here on Earth are in trouble with many of the evils they create for themselves, and as in real life, dogs are much brighter about such things than we are. The author has done a wonderful job of weaving this tale, making it a first rate fantasy read, while at the same time addressing quite real problems and indeed, how to fix those problems.

This book can be, and should be, read on several different levels. First, it is completely appropriate for children from about the age of eight and up. While not a beginning reader by any means, the story could be read to children of a younger age and I feel there would be complete understanding with little explanation of the reader’s part. Secondly, this book is quite sneaky about throwing in wonderful facts about dogs, such as their ability and method of communication, life style, temperament and abilities. Thirdly; this book makes some very insightful observations of the general human condition; not only in the setting of the story, but are just as applicable now as then. Fourthly; these books are excellent motivators, not only for reading, but for generally living life as it should be led. Finally, the entire work is almost irritable to dog lovers.

The nine illustrations included in this work are brilliantly done. The artist (and note that I do use the term “artist” rather than illustrator in this case), has given us soft, charcoal type drawings which are extremely detailed, while at the same time having a misty surreal quality about them that is absolutely charming. This is not an easy fete to pull off, I know, I’ve tried, and it is perfectly done with this work. Stella Mustanoja McCarty knows her dogs and captures them beautifully. She also captures the feeling of the story perfectly and you can see it in each line she draws.

Robert J. McCarty seems to have the ability to write in a way that is quite attractive to children and at the same time is able to write and tell a story that will not numb the mind of the adult whom is reading the work to or with the child. Each chapter of this book is short, the story moves right along, and the young reader quickly becomes completely engrossed with the story line. This is an ideal book to read to a group of children and an ideal work to be read either by the individual child or with a parent or loved one. There are so many good lessons to be learned here!

Young readers, who love fantasy, dogs, history and simply a good, fast moving story, will love this one. This is a book that belongs on their shelves.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Planet of the Dogs

• Accelerated Reading level : unknown
  
• Perfect Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Barking Planet Productions
• ISBN-10: 0978692802

related posts:

• Snow Valley Heroes A Christmas Tale
  
• Castle in the Mist
  

CASTLE IN THE MIST by Robert J. McCarty

This is the second book in the Planet of the Dogs series and I must say I enjoyed it, cover to cover. This work can be read as a sequel to Planet of the Dogs, an ideal situation, but can also be read as a stand-alone with no loss to the flow of the story. This read is suitable for children of approximately eight years and up as a reader, or can well be read to children much younger. Adults will love this one also; I know I did, but then I have my fare share of kid still in me.

In the first book, we find that the world has forgotten how to love, how to be loyal, and indeed, how to be happy, several traits which dogs excel in. On the other side of the sun there is a planet inhabited by dogs. These dogs, through dreams, noted our situation and took steps to intervene and give us a sorely needed hand in getting back on track. In this work, after a year of complete peace and where mankind seems to be getting their act together, trouble starts brewing and war is about to break out amongst the Forrest People. Children are kidnapped, there is an attempt to “do away with” the new animals on earth, i.e. dogs, and things are going from bad to worse. Again, the dogs of Planet of the Dogs decide to take steps and make things right. These are wise and loving animals on the Planet of the Dogs, much like our own dogs here on earth.

As before, we have a very well written fantasy written for the young which includes a lot of good practical information and lots of goof food for thought. The time or era in which this takes place on earth is a bit difficult to pinpoint, but I would say it is during medieval times as life is still pretty primitive here on earth. This gives the author much flexibility and he uses it with great skill. A good fantasy needs enough realism to make it real, yet still have enough mimzy and whimsy in it to make it fun. The author excels in this.

The art work by Stella Mustanoja McCarty is of the same high quality that we found in the first book in this series (and we find in the sequel to this book also), and is a delight to the eye. These are a series of black and white drawing, probably enhanced by the use of charcoal, which fit the text perfectly. When you bring a skilled artist and writer together that know children and know their dogs, then you know you are in for a treat.

This book, like the others, is ideal for group reads. The paragraphs are short and concise and the story moves along quite well. There is plenty of action and as I said, plenty of food for thought buried here and there in the book. The books are soft back (the entire series, so far) and well constructed.

I might add that these books will be well received by any lover of animals and will be a welcome addition to any home, school or public library. I might also suggest that these would be ideal books for the home school folks as the author’s style is a bit different and I am absolutely certain that the success of any reading program for children must include as many different styles as possible.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Castle in the Mist

• Accelerated Reading level : unknown
  
• Perfect Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Barking Planet Productions
  
• ISBN-10: 0978692810

related posts:

• Snow Valley Heroes A Christmas Tale
  
• Planet of the Dogs
  

RALPHINA, THE ROLY-POLY Written and Illustrated by Claudia Chandler

Many, many years ago, my mother first introduced me to the little grayish creatures we called Roly-Polies. I literally spent hours as a little one searching these little creatures out and playing with them. You can imagine my delight when I received this truly remarkable little book for children on the subject of one of my childhood friends.

Ralphina, a Roly-Poly lives in a nice garden with her mother. She is lonely and wants to make friends with the little boy who lives in the house. This is a very simple little story of friendship and at the same time is a wonderful nature lesson for children, and I must admit, adults too. The book is targeted for children from 4 to 8 but with this particular work I should think that the age limit could be expanded somewhat in either direction.

This work has a lot going for it. Not only is the story delightfully sweet, it is well written and completely understandable. The art work is some of the best I have seen in this year’s crop of children’s books, with bright bold colors that are truly eye catching. You can tell by the quality and detail of the illustrations that the author certainly enjoys what she does, and this shows on every page throughout. The book is absolutely perfect for reading to a group of children as the pictures are bold and go with the text perfectly. They can be easily be seen at a distance. As a matter of fact, like all children’s books I review, this one was kid tested. I read it to a kindergarten class (a group of 23 very hardcore literary critics, I can tell you) and to a class of first graders who where even more sophisticated in their reading taste. I received rave reviews from both groups and in fact was asked for a second reading. This one would also make a perfect bed time read, or a read from grandma or grandpa’s lap, for that matter.

In addition, the author has been rather sneaky and has actually inserted many wonderful facts about these amazing little critters. The children are actually getting a very good natural history lesson and will come away from the experience much wiser in the ways of nature. I suspect that a lot of parents and teachers will too, even though they might not want to admit it.

So we have a book that teaches the children about friendship, about being ones own self and a story of gentleness and acceptance. We also have a very good biology lesson and the author has also slipped in a neat little lesson about the colors of the rainbow, which not only covers what a rainbow is, but gives a very nice little art lesson as to colors. While the book is 32 pages long, it is the type of story that you can read over and over and over again to your child without getting absolutely glassy eyed and sick of the thing. I noted that each time I went through it that I spied some new detail in the paintings that I had missed before. Really, what more could you want?

This is a hard covered book and the binding appears to be very good. The pages are of glossy paper. This is type of book that can stand up to rough handling and still be in good enough shape to pass on to the next generation.

I strongly suspect that we will be seeing much more from this author down the road. I do highly recommend this work.

Considerations :::
Ralphina has not been rated by the Accelerated Reading people. You should assume that the book is to be read-to children.

Snow Valley Heroes A Christmas Tale by Robert J. McCarty

What a truly wonderful and unique Christmas story for the whole family. Snow Valley Heroes by Robert J. McCarty and illustrated by Stella Mustanoja McCarty is the third offering in series; Planet Of The Dogs. What an imagination this team has! There is a planet, inhabited by dogs and from time to time, they intervene in our planet's affairs. When we are in trouble, when we need love, understanding, loyalty and so many of the other attributes that dogs possess -- and that we more or less lack-- they come to our rescue. As the reader will see, dogs have much to teach us about life, love and loyalty!

In this latest offering, it seems the wicked King of the North, who has been banished to The Ice Castle, wants revenge and figures the best way to do this is ruin Christmas for everyone. He plots and comes up with the idea of stealing two of Santa Clauses' Reindeer, thereby putting and end to Christmas for good. The dogs of Dog Planet get word of this, and of course, take action! That, very briefly is the plot.

This Christmas story is quite well written. The paragraphs are nice, short and very crisp. Chapters follow a logical order, and are quite easy to follow, which makes this a very good book to read with your child. The author's imagination is quite broad, but he never descends into the realm of being silly -- a flaw so many works in this genre have. While I grant you that this story is pure fantasy, it is logical fantasy and uses the story of Santa, his elves, real people, and of course the dogs of Planet of the Dogs quite effectively. The portrayal of the personalities of the various animals is spot on; with personalities that will be quite familiar to anyone who has ever shared their life with a dog.

Dog lovers will appreciate every word of this little book. In addition to being an obvious natural story teller with the ability to write well, the author also, beyond a doubt, knows dogs! I have been lucky enough to have had companion animals (dogs) since I was born, have raised dogs, trained dogs, hunted with dogs, lived with dogs, worked with dogs, loved dogs and shared my life with dogs for well over sixty years now. Actually, truth be told, I like dogs more than I like most people! Trust me...this author knows dogs!

The art work in this book, by Stella McCarty, is a marvel to the eye. Her soft black and white drawings capture the mood and essence of the story line perfectly. While being extremely detailed, they have a misty, mystical quality about them that make them a pleasure to look at. They are the type of drawing that would be wonderful to have framed an on display in your home. She is a very skilled artist indeed!

Now this is the third book in a series, but fear not! This book can be read and a stand alone. The author has been kind enough to add short summations of the first two books to the back of this one and the reader can be brought up to snuff quite quickly by giving these brief overviews a quick read.

Overall, this is a very good Christmas read; actually a read for anytime and it is an ideal book to snuggle up with the little ones on a cold winter night and simply enjoy. Recommend this one quite highly!

Planet Of The Dogs

Castle in the Mist

Talking Points:::
There is no Accelerated Reading number available yet for this book. So to be on the safe side consider this book as one to be read to younger children. Not a practice reader.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Snow Valley Heroes: A Christmas Tale

• Accelerated Reading level : unknown
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 8, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 0060743581

related posts:

• Planet of the Dogs
  
• Castle in the Mist
  

ARCHIBALD'S SWISS CHEESE MOUNTAIN by Sylvia Lieberman

Every so often you run across a book, either an “adult” book or a children’s book which, after reading the first couple of pages, you come to the realization that you have come across something different, something quite special! Archibald’s Swiss Cheese Mountain by Sylvia Lieberman and illustrated by Jeremy Wendell is one of those special books! I cannot remember when I have been so delighted with an original work such as this one! There is something quite special about this story, and the so very many lessons to learn from reading it.

Archibald is a young mouse who lives with is family in Mr. Hochmeyer’s General Store. Archibald is a young mouse and is learning about life; is wanting to spread his wings, so to speak, and is filled with the want, wonder, need and hunger for adventure that most young people (a mouse in this case) are naturally filled with at that age. Archibald is lucky, he has a mother that is filled with wisdom and does not mind sharing it. “Measure with your whiskers,” Momma Mouse repeated. They are the width of your body. If your whiskers fit, so will the rest of you, my son,” and “things within such an easy reach aren’t always most desirable,” are but two examples.

This entire story is based on Archibald’s adventures in Mr. Hochmeyer’s store. It is a story of adventure, discovery of his physical surroundings and indeed, discovery of himself as a mouse. Our little furry friend is, for the most part, driven by a preoccupation for food…what youngster isn’t driven by this? Or is this just an excuse to do what comes naturally for the young and young at heart, exploration of their physical limitations and to experience life on their own and to its fullest? I have my own suspicions, but each reader can make their own mind up about this. Anyway, throughout his adventures, momma’s wisdom and advice is always with him.

This story hit rather close to home for me. My mother was much like Archibald’s mother in that she was full of wisdom and good advice. And like Archibald’s mother, she was wise enough to know that I had to experience life on my own, to have my own adventures and that you can give a child all the advice you want, but the child is going to test their limits anyway. “Smother the boy and spoil the man,” was one of my mother’s little sayings. I could relate to this little mouse as he and I had and have many of the same characteristics. The author has wonderful insight into a child’s mind!

The story is very well written and Mrs. Lieberman has used a lyrical style that is absolutely captivating. The story flows in a way that makes the entire work a true page turner. Hidden within the prose is all kinds of good advice, some quite obvious, some not, but nevertheless, all sound and all good. Over and over again the author stresses that that there will be obstacles in life, indeed fears of the unknown, but that these little bumps can be overcome. The story is about hunger, not only physical hunger, but intellectual hunger, and is told at a level that children will fully understand. The author seems to have the ability to put these points across in a very enjoyable and fascinating manner.

The art work in this books is great and in many ways rather unique. The artist, Jeremy has used what I call a slap-dash method of mellow but bright colors and has paid very close attention to detail. A cookie is filled with chocolate chips, a Swiss cheese is filled with holes, a can of beans is labeled a can of beans. Facial expressions on our hero and the other mice, people and critters (a large orange cat with green eyes) fit the situation perfectly. The art work goes perfectly with the well written text. The illustrator has captured the spirit of the story perfectly.

This is a perfect read-a-long book. The story is great, the text is quite readable and the pictures quite eye catching. As with most children’s books I review, I gave this one a “kid test.” It was read to two second grade classes and one first grade class. The book was an absolute hit and I was asked for second readings, and indeed, in one class, a third!

The book is will constructed and should be able to survive the handling of many little hands. The paper is of excellent quality and the print style is very easy on the eyes. The size of the book makes it perfect for group readings, or if one on one, fits perfectly in your lap along with the kid. The reading level on this work is designated at between ages 4 and 8, which I feel is about right.


Recommend this one highly. Do your child a favor and get this one for her or him. Do your self a favor and read it along with the child!

Considerations :::
Archibald's Swiss Cheese Mountain needs to be read to kids.

LEO A BABY LION'S STORY

Leo A Baby Lion’s Story is one of a number of works published in a series “My Animal Family.” This is the story of a baby lion growing up on the Serengeti plains as seen through the eyes, and told by Leo, a baby lion cub. This 31 page book has been meticulously researched and is extremely accurate as to the facts presented. Each animal, each situation is new and the writers have been able to convey this newness to the reader. The paintings of the various animals and plants are completely anatomically correct.

The text is simple and easy to follow and fits perfectly with the illustrations. And speaking of illustrations; the artist has used soft colors which blend perfectly and give the reader the feeling of actually being their, yet has not crossed the point where they seem to be actual photographs. This had made the work much more effective in my opinion and has enabled the story to be told without the constraints of having to follow pictures taken in the wild. Please note that these paintings are completely child appropriate. There is no tearing apart of other furry creatures, no upsetting images of the sudden death that is usually presented in this environment. The critters portrayed here actually seem to be getting along quite well, but not in the cartoonish sort of way we often see in such works. There is little to no anthromorphizing here. I find this refreshing. If the illustrations are examined closely, it would appear that the actual art work has been superimposed digitally over the actual photographed back ground in several frames, and done so quite effectively. It is difficult to tell…you have to look closely.

The story examines closely the relationship of the lion pride, mother, father and children. This gives the adult reader many opportunities to discuss family life with the child and his or her relationship with other member of their own family. I like this.

This book is great, but that is not all you get! Included with this work is a wonderful DVD filled with shots of actually lions on the Serengeti. A child’s voice narrates the lion cub’s story. These films and shots are actual BBC footage and also consist of original songs which are also loaded with lion facts and trivia; this DVD alone with worth the price of the book. You also get a card which contains a secret pass word that allows you to enter a wonderful interactive web site which is loaded with various educational games. Again, the footage on the DVD and the games on the web site are completely child appropriate. They are fun and extremely educational. I am one of those people who simply cannot stand computer games of any sort, yet I found myself fascinated with some of the offerings here.

The book itself is very well made and is sturdy enough to take quite a beating. The boards and paper are of high quality and have the look and feel of a much more expensive book. Reading level for this one is from pre-readers through beginning readers (3-9). This is a perfect book, or I should actually call it a package, to use in the class room and would be absolutely ideal for those who are home schooling their children. In this day and time when we are looking for more “bang for your dollar,” I can hardly see how you can go wrong with this one.

All in all, this is a complete class act. I have kid tested these books (two classes of first graders) and the book, along with the DVD was a complete success, i.e. the kids loved it.

Considerations :::
A Baby Lion's Story needs to be read to kids.

HOW THE MOON REGAINED HER SHAPE by Janet Ruth Heller

How the Moon Regained Her Shape by Janet Ruth Heller and Illustrated by Ben Hodson has much to offer the young reader, and indeed, any adult reading the book with the child. While it does have a strong message, which becomes quite obvious rather soon in the book, there are many little lesson packed into very few pages. This work has won multiple awards and just one reading will allow the reader to know why.

This is the story of the moon, a rather happy young lady that enjoyed dancing across the sky, laughing and twirling her skirts as she took pride in the gentle and soothing light she brought. As is so often the case, she runs into a situation that more or less shakes up and alters her world. The Sun, who in this little story is a rather nasty creature who seems quite unhappy with happy people, or in this case, celestial beings, feels the need to put her down. This is often the case with bullies, as you have probably noted in your own life. He insults the happy moon and points out her shortcomings and his superiority. This causes our happy moon to start doubting herself and, indeed, her entire self worth. We also learn that once we know our worth, even further insults, while they may hurt and cause us some anguish, can quickly be overcome by just remembering who we are and what place we hold in the world.

The author has used a folk tale mode to tell this story. She has drawn from the method of the Native American; to tell a story, using nature, to make a point. The story has certainly been influenced by this method of telling a story, but nowhere do I find that the author or artist has tried to pass it off as an authentic Native American Folk Tale. They have merely used a conveyance that has long been in use, a good example being Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, whom I doubt seriously would attempt to pass his The Song of Hiawatha as a “genuine” Native American Folk Tale or pass off The Saga of King Olaf as truly Norse. This method is a literary tool and should be taken as such.

All that being said, this is a wonderful work. As one reviewer has pointed out, it is a lesson in astronomy, a touch of history, wonderful new fable, and like all good fables, teaches us lessons. In this work, we find that we cannot let bullies rule our lives; that we all have our strong points and all contribute greatly to the world and, indeed, universe around us. We may not see or be aware of the impact of our lives on others, but nevertheless we do have an impact and we all need to be aware of it. There is, beyond a doubt, a strong feminist message in this work, something I find refreshing as it is not overbearing with the message, but rather gently and practical.

The written text is extremely readable and is ideal for a group read. This simply written text, along with the wonderful short course in astronomy found in the back of the book, which covers information about the moon and its phases, gives the parent and teacher absolute hours of material to discuss with their child; more about this later.

The text is only half the charm of this particular work though. Ben Hodson has done a wonderful job, using a Southwestern Native American motif. While certainly not absolutely authentic, it does convey the feeling and mood in rather interesting color combinations that are absolutely eye catching.

I “kid tested” this work on three different classes of second grade students and it was a hit. In fact, I was asked for second readings by two of the classes. They loved the story and loved the pictures. You cannot get a better endorsement for a children’s book than this.

The book ends with five page mini-lesson on the mood and phases of the moon. This little lesson is for adults and is written as such. The author has given us some nice projects and food for thought for the children.

All in all, the concept of this book is great. Kids love
it and it is fun to read with them. The art work is of the highest quality. I hardly see how you could go wrong with this one.

Considerations :::
How The Moon Regained Her Shape has an Accelerated Reading (AR) designation of 3.4 which means that the average 3rd Grader in the 4th month of school should be able to read it without getting frustrated by the vocabulary. It can be read aloud to any age.

EMILY'S NEW HOME by Carol Zelaya

Emily’s New Home by Carol Zelaya and illustrated by Kristin Metcalf is the third book and conclusion (?) of the three book series about a little girl and her wonderful relationship with Emily, a Chickadee. As with the first two books, this one is an absolute delight to the ear and eye.

The little girl is moving; moving to a place in the country where there is “more room to play, near cows and horses and barns with hay.” Like all children, there is obviously some anxiety for the little girl and she fully admits that moving away is scary. Chief amongst her concerns is what will happen to her special friend, Emily the Chickadee.

The little girl moves and wonders if Emily will be able to find her new house. Will she be able to fly in the snow? Does she know that the old house is sold? Emily is sad with worry and then……oops! Sorry, no spoilers here! I have been accused of a lot of things in my life, but placing spoilers in my reviews is not one of them!

Like the first two books, this one is another little gem. The text is made up of rhymes, telling the full story of the move to the country. The rhymes are quite rhythmic and soothing in nature, making this a wonderful bedtime read. The artist, Kristin Metcalf has captured the mood of the story perfectly with bright, vivid and accurate colors of birds, pants and background. The text goes perfectly with the illustrations. The author and illustrator’s love for nature shines through with this one!

The very last page in the book consists of a neat little “Chickadee Log.” It enables the little ones to record their Chickadee sightings, their call, and what the bird was doing at the time. This makes a great activity for the adult and child to work on together and who know, may instill a love for birding in a child that will last a life time.

I cannot say enough good things about this book and this series. The book itself is a sturdy thing and will last for years and years. I do highly recommend this one. It would make a wonderful Christmas gift, or an “anytime” gift, for that matter.

Considerations :::
We could not find a Reading Level for this book, so the best assumption would be that you will need to read this to your children.

related posts:

Emily the Chickadee

Caring for Emily's Family

CARING FOR EMILY'S FAMILY by Carol Zelaya

Caring for Emily’s Family by Carol Zelaya is a continuation of the wonderful little story found in Emily Waits for her Family, where we are introduced to the nature loving little girl and her new friend, Emily the Chickadee. This work, like the previous was illustrated by Kristin Metcalf and we certainly have a winner with this team!

In this current little book, our little girl shows how the relationship with her friend the Chickadee develops and how she, the little girl, helps Emily and her family in a nonintrusive way. Setting up bird feeders, making sure there is a supply of water for drinking, bathing and keeping cool and nice housing. All the while, the little story makes it abundantly clear as to the joy the little girl is getting from her bird friends.

Again, the author has used light verse to tell her story, a rhythmic verse which is pleasing to the ear while still using simply words that the little ones will be able to fully understand. The book is short and is perfect to set down for a quick read with your child or grand child and is absolutely ideal for a bed time read. The author obviously knows and loves her critters and knows kids. This shines through on every page.

As with the first Emily book, the illustrations are of the highest technical quality, filling the pages with beautiful colors. Again, the artist, Kristin Metcalf has captured the birds and plants perfectly as to anatomical correctness. I always feel this is important because books at this level are quite able to instill the beginnings of a love for nature in a child and it is always a good thing when the subject is being properly presented. I have no doubt that most children, after reading through this book, will be able to identify a Chickadee when they see one in the wild, and perhaps several different verities of flower.

Each short verse goes perfectly with the painting and even though the art is simply, it still gives the reader plenty of material to point out to the child and discuss. Little things like making the strawberries distinctive from the black berries are important when teaching a child to pay attention to detail.

The book is quite well put together and is a class act in itself, as are the writing and illustrations. This is the kind of small board book that can take quite a beating over the years. I suspect that this book, and the others in series for that matter, will be eventually handed down to the next generation. As you get older, you think of stuff like that, huh!

I cannot think of a better gift to give to a child (I always give books, have for years) than this little volume and the other two which make a nice set. Let’s hope the author continues with either an addition to this series or starts another.

Recommend this one highly.

Considerations :::
We could not find a Reading Level for this book, so the best assumption would be that you will need to read this to your children.

related posts:
Emily the Chickadee
Emily's New Home

THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS by Howard Pyle

This work is a bit different than what we normally review and post, but I feel it would be difficult to find a better book to introduce the young ones to the wonderful story of the legendary King Arthur.

I think it would be difficult to find a folk hero, historical figure or group of legends that are better known, have spawned more literature and have had more movies made of them than King Arthur and his legendary Round Table and the Knights and Ladies who were a part of his story. To be frank, I grew up on this stuff, and furtherer more, admit to having been tremendously influenced by these stories when I was younger. In a fashion, they are very much a part of my total make up. I can well remember reading and being read to out of this very rendition.

That being said… Howard Pyle first published this work in 1902. This book represents the first volume of Pyle’s retelling of the Arthurian Legend. These books, as most of this author’s work, were directed toward young people of that time. Do not though make the mistake of considering this work a simple child’s story, as it is far more than that. When I was in high school and then college, I ran headlong into Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, and like many other young students, when completely numb. Later, I read Baines’ rendition, which was of course more readable, but still quite a chore. While these works are certainly worthwhile, and should certainly be read by anyone with the least bit of interest in classical literature, they never-the-less are not easy works. Actually, they are rather difficult and you actually have to work at them. This is good, but sometimes you just want to relax and enjoy a good story. (I often speculate as to just how many people have been completely turned off to classical literature via having been forced to read these old tales when they were young. For those of you who were; a suggestion…try rereading them now. It is amazing what twenty or thirty years will do to your outlook!

This offering by Pyle fits that need, both for the younger reader and for the adult. I admit to taking great delight in reading this author’s rendition of these old tales and am absolutely thrilled that they are again in print and in such a wonderful edition. The language Pyle uses stays true to the archaic style it was meant to be, yet it is not overwhelming. While the Malory translation is just a kick above G. Chaucer’s, it is never the less difficult in this day and age. Pyle has toned things down so that the average reader can read and enjoy without a lap full of arcane dictionaries setting in their lap, yet he has not lost the essence and beauty of the original work.

This volume starts with the birth of Arthur and then covers many of the tales concerning the various Knights of the Round Table. We meet Sir Kay, Queen Morgana le Fay, Sir Pellias, Sir Gawaine, the wicked down fall of Merlin; The Lady Vivian, Merlin himself and many, many others. The courtly manners, speech and now long outdated attitudes are all meticulously recorded in a readable manner. Now do beware; this is not a politically correct book by any means. The original basis for the story goes back hundreds of years and Pyle’s rendition was, after all, written in 1902. Actually, if this one is read to a much younger child, an adult really should do the reading and offer explanations as to why events were handled in the way they were.

This particular volume is of course illustrated by Howard Pyle himself. I must admit that he is probably one of my most, if not the most, favorite of the older illustrators. The pen and ink drawings are so typically Pyle that it is difficult to confuse him with others. The ample illustrations in this volume are all of that style and in fact strongly resemble old wood engravings. Pyle of course was the creator, or at least the inspirational origin of the Brandy Wine School of Illustration, which include some of the best of the past and are still quite influential today.

For a pure reading joy, this volume is difficult to beat. I cannot wait to get my hand on the rest of the things.

Considerations :::
The Accelerated Reading designation for The Story of King Arthur and his Knights is alternately given as 6.2 or 9.4. As that is a HUGE difference, and we've not been able to get clarification as to which number is correct at this time, our advice would be to assume that the book must be read to younger children.

LADY FLATTERLEY by Linda Wagner

Lady Flatterley by Linda Wagner and Illustrated by Pearl L. Ollie is perhaps one of the most uniquely written and illustrated works for children I have had the pleasure of reading in some time now. The author has been able to work in several nice little life lessons, using verse form, which is not only reassuring in a sweet mellow way, but quite informative and will be a delight to any child. It allows the adult to introduce all sorts of discussion, something I always look for in a child’s book.

Lady Flatterley, our heroine, enters the story as a fuzzy caterpillar hiding among the leaves in a tall oak tree. She is fearful of the wind and obviously of the busy life that is going on around her. She wants to see things, to experience life, but to be frank, she is fearful. The author then takes us on the journey that transforms this caterpillar, thorough the process of preparing her cocoon and eventually, after a long cold winter, transforming in to a free and beautiful butterfly. She receives help, advice and information from helpful creatures around her during her metamorphosis from childhood to an adult.

What wonderful messages there are in this little work for all children! First they are taught that fear of the unknown is really wasted fear, that nature or God has a plan for all of us, and if we trust and let life develop naturally; then we will be much better off for it. The child is taught that change is a natural process, one that all living things go through and that it is a normal life process and one that should be looked forward to. Ms. Wagner has done a very nice job of documenting and teaching the life cycle of a butterfly, so we have a nice little biology lesson thrown in for good measure. The child is also taught, in a rather round about way, that there are really no free lunches, and that good things must be worked for; that we must participate in our own maturation process for it to work.

Now some of these lessons will need to be pointed out to the child by the adult reading the book, which when you think about it, is the job and responsibility of the adult anyway. This is a good thing.

The art work in this book is something to behold. Each page is covered with vivid and contrasting colors which blend perfectly and go precisely with the text. A technique which I have seen before has been used here where the back ground has been accomplished via digital photography and imagery by Jerry Hanzi. The artist, Pearl L. Olive, has superimposed her work over this and blended it perfectly. While familiar with this technique, I must say that it has been used here more effectively than in most works I have reviewed.

All in all, the writing here is great, the illustrations go beyond impressive, and the overall message of the story is invaluable. This is a great read-a-long book, or one for just the child to ponder on his or her own. I do highly recommend this one! Let us hope we hear more from this author!

Considerations :::
We could not find a Reading Level for this book, so the best assumption would be that you will need to read this to your children.

EMILY THE CHICKADEE by Carol Zelaya

What an absolutely delightful and wondrous little book! Carol Zelaya, along with her illustrator Kristin Metcalf has created a true little gem with this one! Emily the Chickadee is the story of a little girl who strikes up a loving relationship with a small chickadee, which she names Emily, and eventually Emily’s family. There is not one aspect of this work that is not charming.
The entire story is written in rhyme, and simple rhyme at that, which tells of a loving tale between the little girl and nature, specifically, a small Chickadee. You can sense the author’s love for nature throughout her writing and her understanding in children. If you consider an author that can put their writing ability to good use, along with their love of nature and children, you have a pretty potent combination.

The art work in this small book is a delight to the eye. The artist, Ms Metcalf has used smooth bright colors and has used these colors in a very effective way. No jumble of eye distracting detail is present. What you see is what you get. Her paintings of the birds and various flowers and other plant life are extremely appealing and anatomically correct in ever way. This lady apparently knows her subject!

Now I have to admit that being an avid birder, flower gardener and amateur naturalist for over 60 years makes me quite susceptible to the subject matter here, but by any standards, this is a well crafted book. I did read this one to two of my young nephews and they did like it. This is a pretty good endorsement as these two young men are quite jaded in their respective five and six literature selections.

I have to agree whole heartedly with another reviewer here in that I was delighted to note that the author approached the entire subject through observation, never once having the little girl interfering with nature’s natural process. I like that as it is a good lesson for children (and some adults.) I also had to agree that the binding of the book and the entire construction was wonderful. This book will be able to hold up for quite a number of years.

Everything about this work is a complete class act. This would make a perfect stocking stuffer for Christmas or just as a gift out of the blue to one of the wee ones. I highly recommend this one.

Considerations :::
We could not find a Reading Level for this book, so the best assumption would be that you will need to read this to your children.

related posts:

Caring for Emily's Family
Emily's New Home

QUEEN VERNITA'S VISITORS by Dawn Menge

Queen Vernita’s Visitors by Dawn Menge and illustrated by Bobbi Switzer is yet another wonderful tool for parents, teachers and those home schooling their children to add to their teaching arsenal. This is one of those little books that will actually make learning fun for both those doing the teaching, and most important, the wee student. Well written and well illustrated, it is an absolute delight to the ear and the eye and ultimately, of course, to the mind.

There are certain basic bits of information we all have to learn as we grow older, telling time, how to tie our shoes, different colors, different shapes, and what is harmful, what is not. This work covers the calendar and all the aspects of the calendar. Days, Months, seasons and the order they come in. This may not seem like much, but it actually is rather important and rather than let the child learn through osmosis, or just pick it up as they go along, a good teaching tool is just what is in order and makes the job so much easier, faster and more enjoyable.

Queen Vernita is lonesome for her old friends and to remedy this, she invites them to her castle; one at a time for a one month stay. While at the castle they participate in a new and exciting activity each day of the week. Each page of this book covers one month starting with the numerical number of the month along with its name, then progresses to the days of the week, and the season. This is repetitive, each pages covers all the days of the week in order. The child is also taught the number of days in each month. By the end of the work, the child has recited each month and then all of the days of the week twelve times. The author has very cleverly worked into the last sentence of the book an easy transition which begs the reader to start the book all over again. This is neat and I got a kick out of it.

The illustrations in this work are in bold colors and expertly executed. The characters are quite unique, from the Queen, to her guests, to the small critters stuck here and there throughout as well as the various plants and trimmings. The illustrations are not overly cluttered, yet leave plenty of room for the individual reading the book with the child to discuss various aspects of the story and make their own additions, something I dearly love doing.

I had the opportunity to use this work with a group of first graders (twice) and they responded quite well, and in fact I was asked for second and third readings by each class. Endorsements do not get much better than this. I cannot for the life of me figure out how a child could not learn the months, days of the week, seasons and all their orders, after going thorough this work a few times.

The writing style is excellent and very carefully worded. The illustrations are great. Kids like it and it is fun to read with them. All the while the child is actually learning something. What more could you want?

Considerations :::
We could not find a Reading Level for this book, so the best assumption would be that you will need to read this to your children.

HOW THE WITCH GOT ALF by Cora Annett

How the Witch Got Alf by Cora Annett and Illustrated by Steven Kellog was published in 1975, which when you think about it, is over 30 years ago. The author dedicates it to “For all (un)loveable donkeys, everywhere” which is a nice and fitting dedication.

Alf is a small donkey who lives on the farm of an Old Man and Old Woman. The farm is populated by the normal critters found in such places during that time and Alf is actually an important part of this close knit community. He works for the Old Man in the fields; pull the Old Man and Old Woman to market once a week and in generally a rather valuable animal. But here in lies the problem. Alf notes that the Old Man plays with the dog and the Old Woman pets the cat as she lays in the Old Woman’s Lap, is fed warm cream and they all set around listening to the Canary. All these animals sleep in the warm house in great comfort and are obviously well loved. Alf, on the other hand, sleeps in the cold barn and is given hay at the end of the day and that is it! Alf feels he is unloved! This is a horrible feeling, not only for people, but for a small donkey too!

Alf tries to sing, with horrid results, tries to set in the Old Woman’s lap which did not work out at all, and attempted to jump up and lick the Old Man’s Face which was not a good idea. Alf feels much unloved, unappreciated and generally down. He decides to run away. Not wanting to run far, he climbs the roof of the house and hides.

I do not want to give you any spoilers here, but suffice to say that Alf learns many things watching and listening. Alf also learns that a roof is not the best place to hide when you run away. The Old Man and Old Woman learn that life without Alf is not such a good thing. Enough of the story now...I will let you read it to find out where the “witch” comes into the story.

This is a very well written little work and skillfully illustrated with black and white drawings by Steven Kellog. The book would be of interest to children from four up and I must say it is one of those books that is a pure joy to read, as an adult, to a child. There are several lessons to be learned with this one such as the fact that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, or most importantly; don’t take those you actually love and depend upon for granted. There is also some very good humor in this work that will be appreciated by the close reader.

This is one of those books we do not want to loose through neglect and passage of time. I highly recommend this one as it is quite timeless. I wish I could give this work six stars.

Considerations :::
We could not find a Reading Level for this book, so the best assumption would be that you will need to read this to your children.