A Year Down Yonder (Newbery Medal Book)
by Richard Peck
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 2000)
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Editorial Review

Grandma Dowdel's back! She's just as feisty and terrifying andgoodhearted as she was in Richard Peck's A Long Way from Chicago, andevery bit as funny. In the first book, a Newbery Honor winner, Grandma'srampages were seen through the eyes of her grandson Joey, who, with his sister,Mary Alice, was sent down from Chicago for a week every summer to visit. But nowit's 1937 and Joey has gone off to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps,while 15-year-old Mary Alice has to go stay with Grandma alone--for a wholeyear, maybe longer. From the very first moment when she arrives at the depotclutching her Philco portable radio and her cat, Bootsie, Mary Alice knows itwon't be easy. And it's not. She has to sleep alone in the attic, attend a hicktown school where in spite of her worn-out coat she's "the rich girl fromChicago," and be an accomplice in Grandma's outrageous schemes to run the townher own way--and do good while nobody's looking. But being Grandma's sidekick isalways interesting, and by the end of the year, Mary Alice has grown to see theformidable love in the heart of her formidable Grandma.

Peck is at his best with these hilarious stories that rest solidly within theAmerican literary tradition of Mark Twain and Bret Harte. Teachers will cherishthem as great read-alouds, and older teens will gain historical perspective fromthis lively picture of the depression years in small-town America. (Ages 12 andolder) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (113)

Wow!
This is a wonderful book. Their is a lot to relate to in this book. Their is romance. Their's people who talk about you. Their's a crazy grandma. I can relate to the grandma. Anyway, Mary Alice learns how life is down in the country. She also learns how school is and the people. I surley recommend this book to someone who loves romance.

A Year Down Yonder
I really liked this book, and I think both children and adult readers would also enjoy this book if they read it. My favorite part in the whole book is when those boys try to come and tear down Grandma Dowdel's privy, then the main boy trips over a string and grandma pours glue on his head! I think in some spots the author could have cut some parts out when it got kind of slow.
My least favorite part was when Grandma and Mary Alice went over to Old Man Nyquist's house and he was pinned under some wood, I thought he was dead that's why that was my least favorite part. The author put to many words in it that I didn't know . I personally thought that a little more should have been written about Joey. I liked the way it ended with Mary Alice getting married in Grandma's house, and then right at the end they wrote who she was getting married to, Royce! I would surely recommend this to others, and I wish there was a sequel to this book.

Year Down Dull
A Year Down Yonder has another book which is A Long Ways From Chicago.This book has lots of parts one part is when they are having a Valentines Day Party.My Opinion of this book is that it was a horrible book, because it had way too many bad parts.It had some good parts.There are bad parts and violent ones like when the grandma pulled out a riffle that would be really bad for little kids to Read or little kid's have it read to them.

There are lots of main parts of this book.The one main part is when the class was having the Valentines Day party.During the beginning when the grandma decided to give the one little girl a jar of jam that was nice.The one part that wasn't good was when Maxine was getting attack by snakes that was really sad.The book was about was the part when they were working on the play {the one Ina Rae was in}.It was so wonderful when Mr. Fluke got Miss. Butler a new scholar that was nice of him.These are just six main parts.There are lots of many mean and bad parts.

This paragraph has the main part of how characters were friendly.When Mr. Fluke got Miss. Butler a new scholar that was really nice of him.The part when the Grandmother was talking to the granddaughter she said "Grandma you are beautiful!"Then when the grandma bought the little girl a jar of jam that was nice.It was Valentines Day and the kids got notes from their Secret Admirer the notes were really nice.

This book was really funny.There were lots of hilarious parts The one funny part was when the grandma said, "What in the Sam Hill" That was really funny, because she wasn't swearing.When the grandmas Granddaughter went to this guy's house and the grandma said careful on what you pick up everything isn't pecans he has a dog.Throughout the book there were notes from the newspaper company called the Newsy Notes and they were really funny.

This book was good but there were lots of horrible parts.The bad parts the author put in just didn't fit this book.This was one of the most horrible books I have ever read.I do not recommend this book, because it was horrible to read.It was also a bad book and it was really boring to read.It made me fall asleep.It was crazing, because there were parts of people being mean to each other I hated that.Over the whole book I would give it *** stars Out of ***** stars.
... Read more

Isbn: 0803725183
Subjects:  1. 1929    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Country life    5. Depressions    6. Family - Multigenerational    7. Fiction    8. Grandmothers    9. Illinois    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Readers - Beginner   

Because of Winn-Dixie (Newbery Honor Book)
by Kate DiCamillo
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 March, 2000)
list price: $15.99 -- our price: $10.87
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Editorial Review

Because of Winn-Dixie, a big, ugly, happy dog, 10-year-old Opal learns 10 things about her long-gone mother from her preacher father. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal makes new friends among the somewhat unusual residents of her new hometown, Naomi, Florida. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal begins to find her place in the world and let go of some of the sadness left by her mother's abandonment seven years earlier.

With her newly adopted, goofy pooch at her side, Opal explores her bittersweet world and learns to listen to other people's lives. This warm and winning book hosts an unforgettable cast of characters, including a librarian who fought off a bear with a copy of War and Peace, an ex-con pet-store clerk who plays sweet music to his animal charges, and the neighborhood "witch," a nearly blind woman who sees with her heart. Part Frankie (The Member of the Wedding), part Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird), Opal brings her own unique and wonderful voice to a story of friendship, loneliness, and acceptance. Opal's down-home charm and dead-on honesty will earn her friends and fans far beyond the confines of Naomi, Florida. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (507)

Because of Winn-Dixie
Do you have dogs who mean the world to you? Well, I do and so does India Opal from Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. This awesome fiction book takes place in Naomi, Floida, during the summer after she moved there.
India Opal moved to Naomi, Floida with her father, the preacher. She meets Winn-Dixie in a grocery store. Some of Opal's friends are Gloria Dump, Otis, Winn-Dixie, Miss. Franny, and Amanda. The characters are believable because the things that happen to them to them can happen to us too. You can see them well in your head. Winn-Dixie reminds me of my dog, but my dog isn't as smart. India Opal tries to get everybody to be fridnds because some of them are really lonely.
Something really good the author did was that she made believable characters and realistic details. I felt sorry for the lonely characters but then they made friends with Opal. I would give this book a 9 out of 10. I recommend this book for girls who like dogs and who are around 7-11 years old. This book will make you want to stay up past bedtime and wonder what will happen next all night.

Quick and delightful read

A charming story of stray dog who finds himself in a bit of a jam until India Opal claims him as hers.A simple story of a sweet dog, his owner and their summer adventures in friendship making is perfect for a quick read over a lunch break or a short layover.Absolutely delightful and charming!

Because of Winn-Dixie
This warm-hearted novel tells the story of India "Opal" Buloni's most magical summer. Opal and her father, a preacher for Open Arms Baptist Church, just moved to Naoli from Florida after Opal's mother walked out on the family. One day, Opal was sent to the local supermarket, Winn-Dixie for a box of Macarooni and Cheese, brown rice, and two tomatoes. When she walks in, there are vegtables all over the floor, and what looks like an "army of store employees" diving after a dog. Opal saw the manager about to cry, so she called the dog to her. Suprisingly, the dog came. This began a life-long friendship between a girl and a "smiling" dog named after a grocery store, Winn-Dixie. All through the summer, the inseperable pair met new people, befriended many unexpected people they met, and found out many secrets of different people. While they are doing this, they bring together unlikely people.
Throughout the book, Kate Di Camillo creativlypaints a dream summer for an adventurous, but lonely young girl. With such vivid details, Di Camillo makes you feel as if you walked next to Opal the entire summer, feeling and experiencing hte same events Opal did throughout the summer. This 182-page book is a work of art. Just recently this novel hit the big screen. Hopefully, this big-screen, high-budget film will portray this magical book. I would recomend this easy-read novel to anyone who can read, young, young and old. Di Camillo did an excellent job creating this enchanting, and moving novel! ... Read more

Isbn: 0763607762
Subjects:  1. Animals - Dogs    2. Animals - Pets    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. City and town life    6. City life    7. Dogs    8. Fiction    9. Florida    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    12. Social Situations - Friendship    13. Social Situations - General    14. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs   

Hope Was Here (Newbery Honor Book)
by Joan Bauer
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 2000)
list price: $16.99 -- our price: $11.55
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Editorial Review

Here's a book that's as warm and melty as a grilled Swiss on seven-grainbread, and just as wholesome and substantial. Ever since the boss promoted herfrom bus girl two and a half years ago when she was 14, Hope has been awaitress--and a darn good one, too. She takes pride in making people happy withgood food, as does her aunt Addie, a diner cook extraordinaire. The two of themhave been a pair ever since Hope's waitress mother abandoned her as a baby, andnow they have come to rural Wisconsin to run the Welcome Stairways caféfor G.T. Stoop, who is dying of leukemia. But he's not dead yet, as the kindlyand greathearted restaurant owner demonstrates when he decides to run for mayoragainst the wicked and corrupt Eli Millstone.

As old-fashioned goodness lines up against the bad guys, the campaign leads Hopein exciting new directions: a boyfriend who is a great grill man, a new sense ofherself and her mission as a waitress, and--when Addie and G.T. finally realizethat they are meant for each other--the father she has always wanted. And all ofit backed up with stuffed pork tenderloin, butterscotch cream pie, and therhythm of the short-order dance.

Joan Bauer, who won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Rules of the Road, has servedup a delicious novel in Hope Was Here, full of delectable characters,tasty wit, and deep-dish truth. (Ages 12 and older) --Patty Campbell ... Read more

Reviews (131)

Now I say Jessica was here
I read this when I was a year younger placing me at almost fourteen. I really enjoyed this book because I think it was a page turner. I myself faced things that this family did so can really connect with the story. I think anyone with kids, or whom is a kid, should read this book.

Uplifting
There's just something about Joan Bauer's writing that makes you feel good coming away from it, despite the fact that she breaks so many rules. Her structure is weird in this book, for example. She condenses crucial time periods and spends chapters and chapters on others. Her heroine Hope is ordinary in so many ways, with things happening to her instead of her being a prime actor (except for thepolitical campaign, of course). But Bauer has so much good humor and faith in the human spirit that you just want to keep reading. And so, you do. And you find yourself recommending her writing to others, too.

Hope Was Here
Everyone feels at home at one point or another. Some people feel at home around their family, others are at home wherever they are. Joan Bauer's novel, Hope Was Here, is about a teenager named Hope finding a place to call home.
Hope was born premature and not breathing correctly. Her mother gave her away to Aunt Addie and she didn't know who her father is. Hope and Addie travel all around the U.S. working in diners. Addie works as a chef and Hope was working as a bus girl until she was promoted to a waitress at the age of fourteen.
Hope and Addie moved to a small town in Wisconsin to run the diner, Welcome Stairways, when Hope was sixteen years old. There she met the owner of Welcome Stairways named G.T. Stoop, who had been diagnosed with Leukemia. He got her involved in his campaign for mayor and taught her about honesty, trust, respect, and honor. Eventually Stoop and Addie got married and adopted Hope. For the first time in her life she had a real family and she had finally found her home.
Hope Was Here is a fantastic book that has a fast moving plot. It also has some deep conversation and reminds the reader that it may not be easy, but you have to fight for what you believe in.
... Read more

Isbn: 0399231420
Subjects:  1. Cancer    2. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Diners (Restaurants)    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Politics, Practical    8. Restaurants    9. Royalty (kingsqueensprincesprincessesknightsetc.)    10. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    11. Social Situations - General   

Joey Pigza Loses Control (Newbery Honor Book)
by Jack Gantos
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (22 September, 2000)
list price: $16.00 -- our price: $10.88
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Editorial Review

The loveable, disaster-prone hero of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key isback, this time in charge of his attention deficit disorder and ready to greetthe world as a normal kid--with the help of his new and improved meds, ofcourse. Now that Joey has a handle on his actions, he feels prepared to face themost mysterious member of his family--his estranged father, Carter Pigza. Heconvinces his skeptical mom to let him spend part of his summer vacation gettingto know his dad again. The only problem is that Joey's dad is just as wired asJoey used to be: "I looked over at his mouth, which never seemed to close--noteven the lips touched together--and it made me dizzy to listen to him." Carterbelieves that Joey can kick his ADD the way he himself kicked alcoholism--coldturkey. But when Carter flushes his meds, Joey has to decide if being friendswith his dad is worth losing his hard-won self-control. "That old Joey wascoming to get me and I couldn't do anything about it... I closed my eyes andtold myself to sleep while I could."

Jack Gantos's second book about Joey Pigza is just as delightful and soulful ashis first. Joey's attempts to keep the fragile peace in his life intact aretouching, and his intense longing to just be normal will mirror the feelings ofmost preteens, whether they have ADD or not. Joey Pigza may sometimes losecontrol, but he never loses his heart. This is an exceptional sequel. (Ages 10and older) --Jennifer Hubert ... Read more

Reviews (102)

Summer Reading
Joey's dad convinces Joey's mom to let Joey stay with him for the summer. Things go haywire when Joey's dad gets rid of his medicine. This causes many problems. So, will he get his medicine back?

JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTEL is a great book for a
Gross and funny laugh.

Think about reading it.
Joey Pigza is a kid who is on medicine for his hyperactivity. He meets his dad.His dad doesn't like the fact that he is on meds for his hyperactivity, so he flushes his meds down the toilet. After that day, Joey starts to lose control. Will Joey ever get back on his meds? Read this book to find out. This book is for anyone who wants a good laugh and loves a crazy story. It is a great story; I would read it over and over again.

Six Star Review
The good news, Joey's got 6 weeks with his dad.
The bad news, He's a Maniac!

Yes, Pigza's in for a bumpy ride down crazy town.He's playing hooky, turning himself into the abominable snowman and other crazy things.Can Joey ever pull himself together long enough to escape a madman of his father?

Prepare to bust a gut laughing cause this book is 101%gauranteed to have your family laugh so hard, they'll barf. ... Read more

Isbn: 0374399891
Subjects:  1. Alcoholism    2. Attention-deficit hyperactivit    3. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder    4. Baseball    5. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    6. Children: Grades 4-6    7. Fathers and sons    8. Fiction    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Social Situations - Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Abuse    11. Social Situations - Special Needs    12. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

The Wanderer
by Sharon Creech, David Diaz
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (30 April, 2000)
list price: $16.99 -- our price: $11.55
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Editorial Review

"I am not always such a dreamy girl, listening to the sea calling me. My father calls me Three-sided Sophie: one side is dreamy and romantic; one is logical and down-to-earth; and the third side is hardheaded and impulsive."

Thirteen-year-old Sophie, skipping between "dreamland or earthland or muleland," hears the sea calling her. Much to the concern of her adopted parents, she decides to join her uncles and male cousins on a sailing voyage from Connecticut across the Atlantic to England (and her grandfather Bompie) on a 45-foot sailboat. Not only does she want to make the trip, she feels she has to.

This perilous cross-Atlantic journey will make young readers feel the wind in their hair and the salt spray on their face. Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech (Walk Two Moons) describes the sailing experience with astonishing precision--from the smell of the sea to the intricate workings of The Wanderer itself.

Along the way, Sophie proves her bravery and competence to the rather grumpy all-male crew; intrigues and captivates her cousin Cody with her beautiful, odd stories of Bompie that always somehow end in underwater disaster and apple pie; and spills her heart into a daily journal. Readers get another angle on her, too, as Cody keeps a log that alternates with hers. He grows to know, and like, and wonder about, his new cousin Sophie along with the reader, and as her mysterious past reveals itself bit by bit, we are all right there on the edge of our seats, ready for the boom to crash over to the other side.

Sophie's adventures take her not only straight into perilous waves higher than buildings, but deep into her hidden past. This profound, suspenseful novel will pull you into its swift current and barely let you surface for breath. (Ages 9 to 13) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (150)

pretty cool book
Im 13 and we had to read this book for reading class......all of my classmates and I loved this book.....we really got into it.....i think that if you would like a great adventure book this is the best book possible. The book is about a 13yr old girl name Sophie who goes on a trip across the ocean and she meets some really great people along the way. If you would like to find out what happens in the end youve got to read the book.

Good for Younger Readers
I read this book when it came out when I was in fourth grade or so.I liked it then, but that was probably because I was a total bookworm.

"The Wanderer" is basically a little kid book, in a sense.Anyone under the age of twelve will enjoy it. After that, all of us in high school and up can only read about a page of it before coming to the conclusion that Sophie is psychotic and suffers from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Sophie's nearly insane babblings can get quite annoying after awhile, and the whole Bompie thing was a little too drawn out.The word "pie" was used far too frequently throughout this book.

In short, I would only recommend this book to a primary-school-aged girl that likes to read longer books.(It's really not a guy book.)

This has to be the most boring and dreamy books ever written
The Wanderer,
By Sharon Creech
Published by Scholastic Inc.

She thought Bombie was dead. She thought they were too late. But then his nurse told her that Bombie was just a little confused. In The Wanderer, 13 year old Sophie sails across the Atlantic Ocean to visit her adopted Grandfather named Bombie. Along with her are her cousins Brian and Cody, and her uncles Stew, Dock, and Mo. The story is told by the alternating opinions of Sophie and Cody. At one point in the story, the Wanderer had been in a storm for a while and they had thought that the storm was waning. Sophie and Cody had been on deck and a large wave swept right over the Wanderer. Luckily, everyone had there safety harnesses on, so noone was killed, but Cody bloodied his head a little bit.
Sophie is an orphan. Her adopted parents say she is 3-sided. One side is dreamy, like her adopted mother. One side is logical, like her father, and one side is mule headed. Her parents say that mule-headedness doesn't run in the family. Throughout the story Sophie seems to be in the dreamy part the most often. She also finds the simplest thing, like this person's life on Grand Manan island, and has a million questions about it and can see herself doing a job that she sees, and she ponders being a lobster fisher or whatever and it is really boring and stupid. Sophie doesn't really change that much during this book, except she finds out about her parents death. Cody is never serious and acts goofy all the time. He always refers to girls as "wildlife" or "babes" and has a habit of ticking his father off. He is dynamic and he becomes more serious and tries to be a good kid after the journey. Bombie is Sohpie's adopted grandfather and has moved back to England to finish his life. He doesn't really change.
I really disliked this book and would not recommend it to anyone. Sophie was way too dreamy. She was always talking about how the sea was calling to her and blah blah blah. It got really repetitive. She was strange and acted like she had met Bombie even though she never had. Also, in almost every story about Bombie she inserted parts about him struggling underwater, which was not Bombie's story, but her own. All and all, she seemed like she needed a psychiatrist. You would also have to hear a lot of stuff twice because either Sophie or Cody would say something, and then in the next chapter it would be told over by the next person. This book was very anti-climatic, as throughout the whole book the suspense was building up to whenthey would meet Bombie, and then they just met him and it was like, wow that was kind of pointless. All and all I thought this contemporary fiction book was very bad, and I might rate this a 3 on a scale of 1-10. There are a million better ways to spend your time then reading this book, and they only way I would read this book again would be if someone paid me. ... Read more

Isbn: 0060277300
Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family life    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Ocean travel    8. Sailboats    9. Sailing    10. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Emotions & Feelings   

So You Want to Be President? (Caldecott Medal Book)
by Judith St. George, David Small
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 August, 2000)
list price: $17.99 -- our price: $12.23
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Editorial Review

Tired of books about the presidency that present themselves as historybooks? Author Judith St. George--along with Caldecott Honor-winning illustratorDavid Small--has created a book about the presidency that's serious fun. Thebasic theme is that anyone can be president: a fat man (William Howard Taft) ora tiny man (James Madison), a relative youngster (Teddy Roosevelt at 42) oroldster (Ronald Reagan at 69). Presidential hobbies, sports, virtues, and vicesall get a tongue-in-cheek airing, perfectly matched by Small's political-cartoonstyle of caricature painting. It's fun, but the underlying purpose is clearlyserious: to remind kids that the American presidents have been a motley group ofindividuals, not a row of marble busts. Ironically, that message makes thepresidency far more interesting (and appealing) than it seems in some of themore traditional books. There's a factual addendum at the back giving all thedates and names, with a one-line bio for each past-president. (Ages 8 and older)--Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Book
Wouldn't it be fun to do one of these for adults.

The politician who would sell his Mother for a vote. And wait, the other politician who would sell his Father for a vote.

Great fun.

Great Fun!
This is not your run-of-the-mill biography. The illustrations are fun and engaging. The pages are full of amusing facts and funny antidotes about the presidents. My favorite aspect of the book is how accessible the author makes these legends of US history. I think this is a great book to introduce young children to the presidents and serve as a stepping stone to futher study.

Compare and contrast the presidents
This book briefly explains how the presidents were similar and different, while using caricatures for pictures. For instance, it tells children that many of the presidents had the same first names, and that several had a relative who was president.I wouldn't use it as a book for teaching about individual presidents.It basically explains some of the elements that might have influenced the public to vote for a particular president.My son loves the title, but isn't thrilled with the content.I would also recommend it as a primary book rather than one for older children. ... Read more

Isbn: 0399234071
Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Politics / Current Events    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Juvenile Nonfiction    4. Juvenile literature    5. Miscellanea    6. People & Places - United States    7. Politics & Government    8. Presidents    9. United States   

Casey at the Bat: A Ballad of the Republic Sung in the Year 1888 (Caldecott Honor Book)
by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, Christopher H. Bing, Christopher Bing
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 September, 2000)
list price: $17.95 -- our price: $12.21
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Reviews (14)

But there is no joy in Mudville
In my own personal experience, I first came across meticulous illustrator/reinterpreter Christopher Bing when he decided to retell, "The Story of Little Black Sambo".And regardless of whether or not you feel his version was worthwhile or simply an example of offensive materials in luxurious packaging, there's no denying that the book was researched, culled, and created with many gallons of sweat.So when I decided to go back and read Bing's earlier accomplished retelling of Ernest Lawrence Thayer's, "Casey At the Bat", I thought I knew what to expect.I mean, sure the book had won a Caldecott Honor.But I had little doubt that I'd find it simply a nice little story with pretty pictures.Instead, I was blown away.Knocked out of my socks.Jolted right out of my chair.In short, this book exceeded by wildest expectations.To read this story in this version is to find yourself wondering just how many man hours Christopher Bing sacrificed from his personal life to retell Thayer's story in full.You will not only enjoy this particular book.You will find yourself poring through it for hours on end.I kid you not.

There is something quintessentially American about old bat-swinging Casey.Something about his gall and bombast that really strikes home (har har).The world, especially the American world, is filled with Casey's ancestors.Fellas (and gals) that think they're really the cat's pajamas and ruin everything through their blowhardy natures.The book begins with those awe-inspiring words, "The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day...".And we're off.As Thayer's poem plays out, Bing's beautiful faux early newspaper engravings show the action as if each scene were an illustration in the Mudville Sunday Monitor.Further enlivening the text are old baseball ads, beautifully faked and yellowed editorial and informative clippings, baseball ephemera (tickets, membership cards, baseball cards, etc.), and real pins from the earliest days of the American sport.None of this detracts from the tension however.As in the story, Mudville is in dire straits, only barely hanging on when Casey comes to bat.He lets the first two pitches fly right past him, ratcheting up the tension and his own (potential) glory.Then the final pitch flies and we hear those magnificent final lines: "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light; And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;But there is no joy in Mudville - mighty Casey has struck out".

For all that the illustrations themselves would fit beautifully into an actual newspaper from 1888, they're really surprisingly gripping in the context of the tale.Everyone in the pictures is dressed in garb appropriate to the time period.Casey himself sports a magnificent handlebar moustache and is noticeably older than many of the baseball players that bat today.There's a wonderful moment too when the final pitch is about to be thrown and you find yourself looking deeply into Casey's penetrating glare.It is truly a face grown, "cold and stern", and ready to hit the next ball that flies.Kids who read this book, or have it read to them, will have zippo difficulty following the book's action and excitement.In fact, that's pretty much a credit to Thayer himself.Name yourself another late nineteenth-century poet who has created a series of verses as catchy to our ears today as they were when first produced.I ask you.

In this world of steroid enhanced muscles and drug-influenced hitting, baseball could use a little nostalgia.A way of taking us back to its beginnings, when it was all about the game.I can think of no better way to do this than Bing's glorious tribute to everything that is good and bad about the American spirit.Kids will like the story and pictures.Adults will find themselves reading and rereading the tiny articles that talk about everything from the addition of baseball gloves into the game to the nomination of a second umpire.A picture book that will radically change the way you think about picture books as a whole.

Delightful Book for Baseball Fans of All Ages
If you love and appreciate baseball not only as a sport, but also as poetry in motion and a metaphor for the American experience, then this is a book that you simply must have. Formatted as clippings from an old-time newspaper contained within a scrapbook with other mementos, it never once steps out of character - front and back dust-cover blurbs, thanks and acknowledgements, editor's notes, dedication, all the way down to publisher's information, ISBN and Library of Congress data all maintain this charming illusion. A tremendous amount of thought and care have gone into creating this book, making it an heirloom quality treasure. Christopher Bing spent time researching the photo archives of the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Sports Museum of New England, as well as various individuals' collections of memorabilia to put together this beautiful and creative volume.
The text is the simple, classic baseball poem penned by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. Each page, however, is rich with detail. The pictures depict a game played in the late nineteenth century, and are painstakingly accurate in period detail, and rendered as engraved newspaper pictures of the period. These pictures are then overlaid with other mementos such as old-time cigarette baseball cards, stereoscopic photos, and clippings from The National Sports Reporter & Gazette, all of which are creatively apropos to the page on which they appear. When the crowd in the poem calls to "kill the umpire!" a clipping from an old catalogue advertising rifled barrel revolvers appears. When they concede that they would bet "even money" on the game if only Casey could come to bat, coinage and paper currency of the time period overlay the picture.
Through the clippings from The National Sports Reporter & Gazette, Bing includes valuable tidbits of baseball history and period trivia. We learn that the overhand pitch was once not allowed, and many opposed its introduction, believing that it would unbalance the game in favor of pitching. One clipping shows that blacks were originally able to play professional baseball until frozen out by unofficial agreements of owners and managers, including Hall of Famer Cap Anson. We even discover the meaning behind the derisive terms "lulu" and "cake" as used in the poem.
Though younger children may enjoy having it read to them and looking at the pictures, this book is most effective with those who can read and appreciate all of the many added charms that it contains. It is a book that can be enjoy at eight, and appreciated even more at eighty. There may be no joy in Mudville, but I'll wager that any baseball fan that receives this book will have more than enough of the stuff to go around.

Theo Logos

A wonderful book
My thirteen-year-old daughter has developed two loves recently - poetry and baseball. At school, she gave Casey at the Bat as her dramatic reading. Well, she sure was happy to find this book. Illustrated in the form of a scrapbook from 1888, each two pages include a two page-wide picture of a page from the Mudville Monitor (June 3, 1888) and part of Ernest Lawrence Thayer's famous poem. Along the way, the reader is treated to many other items in the scrapbook, including vintage baseball cards, tickets, newspaper articles, advertisements and bric-a-brac.

Yep, this is a wonderful book, filled with lots of surprises and some wonderful illustrating. If you have a young baseball fan in your home, then you must get this book; you will love it and your baseball fan will - mine did! Get it! ... Read more

Isbn: 1929766009
Sales Rank: 100845
Subjects:  1. 1859-1946    2. Baseball    3. Baseball players    4. Casey, Brian Kavanagh,    5. Children's 9-12 - Poetry / Plays    6. Children: Grades 3-4    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Poetry    9. Poetry - General    10. Sports & Recreation - Baseball    11. Casey, Brian Kavanagh   

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
by Doreen Cronin, Betsy Lewin
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 February, 2000)
list price: $15.95 -- our price: $10.85
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Editorial Review

The literacy rate in Farmer Brown's barn goes up considerably once his cows find an old typewriter and begin typing. To the harassed farmer's dismay, his communicative cows quickly become contentious:

Dear Farmer Brown,
The barn is very cold at night. We'd like some electric blankets.
Sincerely,
The Cows

When he refuses to comply with their demands, the cows take action. Farmer Brown finds another note on the barn door: "Sorry. We're closed. No milk today." Soon the striking cows and Farmer Brown are forced to reach a mutually agreeable compromise, with the help of an impartial party--the duck. But this poor, beleaguered farmer's "atypical" troubles are not over yet!

This hilarious tale will give young rebels-in-the-making a taste of the power of peaceful protest and the satisfaction of cooperative give and take. Witty watercolors by award-winning illustrator Betsy Lewin (Snake Alley Band, Araminta's Paint Box) will make this a favorite for one and all, even if words such as"ultimatum" and "neutral" throw the younger set. (Ages 5 to 8) --EmilieCoulter ... Read more

Reviews (132)

Great for a Gift
I was recently visiting a friend from college and wanted to bring her daughter who I had never met before a present. This book was such a HUGE hit. During my trip I was asked by my friends daughter to read this @ least a dozen times. Some of the phrases w/n the book repeat and by the 4th or 5th reading my friends daughter anticipated when the "click, clack, moo" was coming!!!
I did change one thing, instead of saying Sincerely after each note typed I said, Love the cows, or Love, Farmer Brown, it just made it easier for her to understand.
Great book for your home library OR for a wonderful gift!

First Graders Loved This Book, And So Did I.
I loved this book. Very cute and entertaining.I had a chance to read the book to a first grade class after I fell in love with it, and they enjoyed every minute of it.It felt good to hear them giggle at those silly cows.Click, Clack, Moo.

Kids love it more than the parents!
I took this book to read to a group of 3-5 year olds and they LOVED the repetition in it because they felt like they were involved in the story!The reader, however, probably doesn't enjoy it as much because of the fact that they have to keep repeating themselves.The illustrations are great though and it's a very cute story that will keep the little ones entertained. ... Read more

Isbn: 0689832133
Subjects:  1. Animals - Farm Animals    2. Cattle    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Preschool    5. Cows    6. Domestic animals    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Lifestyles - Farm Life & Ranch Life    11. Typewriters    12. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Farm Animals   

Olivia
by Ian Falconer
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 2000)
list price: $16.95 -- our price: $11.53
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Editorial Review

Olivia would be Eloise, if Eloise were a pig.She is good at singing 40 very loud songs and is very good at wearingpeople out. And scaring the living daylights out of her little brother, Ian,particularly when he copies her every move. She is also quite skilled atreproducing Jackson Pollock's "Autumn Rhythm #30" on the walls at home. When hermother tucks her in at night and says, "You know, you really wear me out. But Ilove you anyway," Olivia precociously pronounces, "I love you anyway too."

The New Yorker artist Ian Falconer's endearing charcoal portraits of hisporcine heroine are spotted with fire-engine red gouache in all the rightplaces--perhaps a tribute to Hilary Knight's red, pink, white, and blackcelebrations of Olivia's human counterpart? When she dresses up, the bow on herears, her red lipstick, and her high-heeled shoes are all red. (The only timeher shades-of-gray body is pink is when she is sunburned and the area where herbathing suit was is white!) Falconer does a fine job of letting the spare textset up the jokes for the visual punch lines--a dryly humorous interplay thatadults will appreciate as much as children.

Preschoolers (and their parents) will see themselves in Olivia--a typicalhigh-energy, over-the-top kid who likes the beach and Degas paintings, but hatesnaps. On the other hand, she combs her ears and is unusually gifted atsandcastle building. While we are certainly reminded of Eloise, Falconer'sportrait is simpler in scope, less demented, and,as a result, less adult. Bottom line: precocious is fun, and we're tickled pinkto have Olivia join the parade of, let's just say, individualisticyoungsters. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (104)

Love it!
My son is 18 months and loves this book. He even likes to sleep with it. The words are catchy and fun. The illustrations are wonderful. Its a wonderful book for a large range of readers. I plan to buy the entire series.

Great text--illustrations don't excite us
My preschool daughter and I adore Olivia. She's your typical opinionated, difficult, charming preschool girl. (My favorite is her songbook "40 very loud songs.") However the illustrations belong on/in the New Yorker (it was not a surprise to find this was Falconer's usual venue). They are black and white and gray with accents in red. BORING. Some people apparently like this--my daughter and I would prefer color. If Falconer could loosen up and illustrate to match the vibrant personality of his heroine I'd buy more Olivia books. (Even if Eloise is also in black and white--at least she has pink, the preschool girl hands-down favorite.)

Our First
This is our first Olivia book and our daughter loves it...so do adults when they come over. Books are the best gift...This is a Great gift suggestion. We need to get the stuffed Olivia too!!! ... Read more

Isbn: 0689829531
Subjects:  1. Animals - Pigs    2. Behavior    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Family - Daily Life    6. Fiction    7. Human behavior    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Pigs    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Homeless Bird
by Gloria Whelan
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (31 March, 2000)
list price: $15.95 -- our price: $10.85
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Editorial Review

"What if I don't like him?"
"Of course you will like him."
"But what if I don't?"
Maa impatiently slapped at a fly. "Then you must learn to like him."

But Koly never gets a chance to find out if she does care for her intended groom. Married and promptly widowed at 13, Koly finds herself in the grim position of being cast out by a society that has no place for girls like her. With a seemingly hopeless future in India, this courageous and spirited young woman sets out to forge her own destiny. Through perseverance, resourcefulness, and sheer luck, she manages not only to find a niche for herself, but even to find happiness again.

Gloria Whelan's tale of a remarkable girl in an extraordinary situation will linger with the reader long after the last page is read. The shaping of Koly's life, as anyone's, is in her own hands, as well as the hands of the society in which she lives. Her ability to express herself--and ultimately support herself--with her exceptional skill in embroidery is a symbol of the creative ingenuity that will serve her well throughout her tribulations. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (150)

Homeless Bird!
I loved reading this wonderful book called Homeless Bird. It was interesting to read about Koly's live as a 13 year old girl. Arranged Marriages, deaths in the family, starvation, and friendships are all part of this great novel by Gloria Whelan!

don't stop reading story by Gloria Whelam
this story's characters are koly a 13 year old who is supossed to get married to a sickly boy named hari.a few months after the marrige hari,his mother,his father,and koly go to the holy city.hari's family brings him to the river where he plays then his energy runs low and soon after he dies.his mother,father,and koly return to their small house in the country.months after hari died his father died leaving koly her mother-in-law,and hari's little sister alone.soon his little sister will be married and gone.when she leaves koly and her sass (mother in law) leave.they stop in a place to get food ,but when koly goes to get food her sass leaves her and goes to her brother's house.

I Loved It!
This book was about a 13 year old girl, named Koly who lived in india with a very poor family. Then one day her mother told her that she was arranged to marry a boy who she has never met before, but she didn't have a choice. Not long after the wedding, her husband died of Terberculoses. leaving her as a widow
The book showed a lot about the Indian culture and how hard being a Indian female can be. Koly didn't have much control of her life and most decisions were made based on her family traditions and Koly's opinion or happiness didn't seem to matter much because everyone thought there way was right for her.
I liked this book because it was very realistic and the things that happened in her life still happen a lot in India today. The story was told in Koly's point of view and made me understand exactly how it felt to be her. The book had absolutely no weak points. While reading I felt like I was in India living her life. I think anyone who read this book who start to appreciate the freedom that they have and those who don't have freedom will just be able to relate.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to understand the traditions, arranged marriages, and the cast system in India and why the people of India believe in them. Many people ask "why any parent would want their children to marry someone they don't know?", even I asked this question. After I read this book, arranged marriages started to make a lot of sense, even though I still won't do that to my children. ... Read more

Isbn: 0060284544
Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Courage    4. Fiction    5. Historical - Asia    6. India    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. People & Places - Asia    9. Social Situations - Homelessness & Poverty    10. Juvenile Fiction / Historical / Asia    11. Reading Group Guide   

Kit's Wilderness
by DAVID ALMOND
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (07 March, 2000)
list price: $15.95 -- our price: $10.85
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Editorial Review

Like David Almond's 1998 Whitbread-winning Skellig, this powerful, eerie, elegantly written novel celebrates the magic that is part of our existence--the magic that occurs when we dream at night, the magic that connects us to family long gone, the magic that connects humans to the land, and us all to each other. As Kit's grandfather puts it, "the tales and memories and dreams that keep the world alive."

It seems fated that 13-year-old Christopher Watson, nicknamed Kit, would move to Stoneygate, an old English coal-mining village where his ancestors lived, worked, and died. Evidence of the ancient coal pit is everywhere--depressions in the gardens, jagged cracks in the roadways, in his grandfather's old mining songs. A monument in the St. Thomas graveyard bears the name of child workers killed in the Stoneygate pit disaster of 1821, including Kit's own name--Christopher Watson, aged 13--the name of a distant uncle. At the top of this high, narrow pyramid-shaped monument is the name John Askew, the same name of Kit's classmate who takes the connection between this monument and life--and death--very seriously.

The drama unfolds as the haunted, hulking, dark-eyed John Askew draws Kit and other classmates into the game of Death, a spin-the-knife, pretend-to-die game that he hosts in a deep hole dug in the earth, with candles, bones, and carved pictures of the children of the old families of Stoneygate. Kit the writer and Askew the artist belong together, Askew keeps telling him. "Your stories is like my drawings, Kit. They take you back deep into the dark and show it lives within us still.... You see it, don't you? You're starting to see that you and me is just the same." Are they, though?

Kit's Wilderness conjures a world where the past is alive in the present and creeps into the future--a world where ancestral ghosts and even the slow-changing geology of the landscape are as tangible as lunch. Powerful images of darkness exploding into "lovely lovely light" filter throughout the story, as Almond boldly explores the dark side and unearths a joyful message of redemption. (Ages 11 and much, much older) --Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (85)

Kits Wilderness, Come and play of death
The book that I'm reading is "Kits Wilderness" by David Almond. What the book is about is, there's a new kid in town and his name is Kit and he meets a boy his age named John Askew and he introduces kit to a new kind of game and the game is called Death...

I really liked the book because it was one of those books that while you read it you can picture everything in your mind that's going on. David Almond did a good job going into detail about things that are going through the kid's heads as things are happening to them and the game death.The things in the book just all go together, there's never a boring part while you're reading.

People that would like this book are the people that who like to be able to imagine what there reading, and also if they like read a good book about things that you normally wouldn't read in other books.

I really don't think that anyone wouldn't like this books everyone would probably like it, unless you don't like to read which I'm sure deep down most people like to. The only thing with this book is that people might have read more advanced books than this one so it might be a little easy for them. But either way it's a very good book.

But in the end I really enjoyed reading "Kits Wilderness," I liked it so much that I've read it more then once. I hope reading the book review about "Kits Wilderness" will inspire you to go out and buy or read this book you won't regret it.

Curriculum at its Best
I'm reading this book as part of English at my school, and I find it's absolutely brill! Allie's a real inspiration to me, as I'm planning to be an actress myself. And though Askew seems too dark for me, he's proven of great interest. We're even using Kit's style of writing from his story of Lak for future stories in the curriculum. We haven't read Part 3 yet, but when we do, I bet it's just as white-knuckling and full of suspense as the other two parts!

THIS BOOK SUX!
I did not like this craphead book at all. I was not excited to pick it up and could not find myself getting hooked in its non-existant story line. The characters were unrealistic and undeveloped. Is"Kit" a good guy or a bad guy? You just can't root for him throughout the story because he is just an unfinished sketch on a chewed up piece of paper. ... Read more

Isbn: 0385326653
Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Fiction - General    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Coal mines and mining    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Fiction    6. Ghosts    7. Grandfathers    8. Horror & Ghost Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Old age    11. Social Situations - Friendship    12. Juvenile Fiction / Social Situations / Friendship    13. Reading Group Guide   

Miracle's Boys (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner)
by Jacqueline Woodson
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 April, 2000)
list price: $15.99 -- our price: $10.87
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Editorial Review

"Sometimes I feel like our life is one big work of art--it's everything" [Charlie] stared down at his bare feet. "And nothing."

"This isn't art," I said. "It's our block! It's our life."

If only, if only... Life is full of poignant hypotheticals for Ty'ree, Charlie, and Lafayette, three brothers who are raising themselves after they lost their father to a drowning accident and their mother to diabetes. Each boy deals with his grief in his own way: the oldest, Ty'ree, has given up his dreams of college to work full time to support the others. Charlie is slipping into a life of crime, and is just back, angry and alienated, from two years at a correctional facility. Lafayette, the youngest brother, has retreated inward, avoiding his friends and blaming himself for his mother's death. These three are struggling against pretty large odds, but "brother to brother to brother," they can survive.

Jacqueline Woodson writes with a sure hand and true understanding of the complexity and depth of young people's lives. Winner of many awards for her novels, including two Coretta Scott King Honors (for From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun and I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This), she tells a captivating, honest story. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Corey's Review
I think Miracle's Boys is a great book, the way it talks about a family of three brothers who parents had died. I like the fact that the oldest brother becomes the two other brother's legal guardian. The reason why i like that is becauses it shows how much the oldest brother cares about his family. He cared so much about his family that he dropped out of college to make sure that they live a good life and don't throw it away. Lafayette, the youngest child, is very curious about what had happened to his mamma and his daddy, always asking questions about them. The middle child, Charlie, is the trouble maker in the family. He's been away at Juvie for two years for stealing money from a candy store. When he get's out, he just doesn't learn and continues to get in trouble until he learns how much his family needs him and how much he needs his family. I respect Jacqueline Woodson because she describes what it's like growing up without a mamma and a daddy. She writes about real life controversies.

THE BOOK BANDIT
I must say this book didnt particularly catch my intrest at first, but after reading the description o the back, i thought it would be cool. Boy was i wrong. This book had a good story but was very slow! I mean theres barely any action and good teen drama in it!So to sum it up.... This book was a little less than OK.
sincerely
THE BOOK BANDIT

p.s yes i DID see the special for this book on THE-N and i thought it was ALOT better than the book (suprisingly).

Future TV Show
Very good plotline and it makes you think too. It shows all kinds of grief and struggle between a broken family trying to recover from tragedies. This book will soon be made into a tv mini-series on Noggin's teen network, The-N. ... Read more

Isbn: 0399231137
Subjects:  1. Brothers    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Family - General    5. Family problems    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Orphans    9. Racially mixed people    10. Social Situations - General   

Uptown (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner)
by Bryan Collier
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 June, 2000)
list price: $16.95 -- our price: $11.53
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Reviews (2)

Above 110th street
When you live in New York City, you start viewing picture books that take place there with an especially critical eye.Sometimes this can be a good thing, like when a book draws a subway stop incorrectly or fails to acknowledge the correct placement of the Central Park Mall.Other times, it's a handicap.The New York Public Library's 2004 list of 100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know included Bryan Collier's 2000 ode to Harlem, "Uptown".Upon reading through it, I wondered why anyone would concentrate a picture book on such a specific area.What interest could this possibly hold for kids living in, oh say, Iowa or Nebraska?How could the author be so vain as to think that by zeroing in on a neighborhood, others would understand why it's important?Then I took a step back.I remembered that there are hundreds of books that do what "Uptown" has done.They define a neighborhood, a block, a city, or even a nation so that the children reading the book will be transported to entirely new geographical locations.If I lived anywhere else BUT New York I would have instantly recognized the charms of "Uptown" upon first setting eyes on it.Fortunately, I've mended my ways and can tell you truly that for a spot on description of a unique cultural place and time, Bryan Collier has Harlem's number.

Our narrator is a young boy who knows Uptown like the back of his hand.In his words we hear all the different things that he identifies with his home.Uptown is everything from chicken with waffles to barbershops filled with men in hats.There's jazz and weekend shopping on 125th street.There's girls wearing identical outfits on their way to church and "the orange sunset over the Hudson River".Finally, when all is said and done, there's just one thing the boy can truly say about this world."Uptown is Harlem... Harlem world, my world. Uptown is home".

Using a hodge podge of mixed media in the form of watercolors and collages, Collier makes an array of complicated and highly detailed images out of fabrics and photographs.The brownstones that line the streets (described, deliciously, in a sentence that compares them to chocolate) are complex combinations of images that blend seamlessly with the rest of the book.Our hero has a very cool attitude about him too.Sometimes he's sitting on a chair eyeing photographs of his grandparents' wedding day.Sometimes he's shooting hoops.Sometimes he's just sitting listening to the Harlem Boy's Choir.Whatever the case, as long as you're in his presence you know he has a handle on every situation.This narrator is, ultimately, a reliable one.Surrounded by an organized muddle of straight and crazy images, you know he's at home in this raucous wonderful city.

Kids will like this book.Whether you're a Midwestern suburban homeowner, a Texan working the fields, or an L.A. sun worshipper, this book will still speak to you.It doesn't matter if you've never even set foot in New York City.It doesn't matter if you've, until this moment, avoided reading books about cities to your kids because you think they'll be confused by them.Regardless of your situation in life, "Uptown" will still speak to you and touch you in some way.This is a book about belonging to a culture of like-minded individuals.It's ultimately a celebration of a home.And whether you're comfortable with that or not, it's well worth the struggle.I think you'll find it a delight.

for anyone who loves Harlem
I spent my early childhood in Harlem, and this book felt like home.It's beautiful!It made me laugh and get misty eyed all at once.I think that with all the negative publicity Harlem gets it's important (especially for children who live there) to see their home portrayed with kindness and affection.To see a celebration of who and what's there now, with due respect to (but not focus on) what was there when their great-grandparents were kids.A celebration that doesn't include hate, gunfire and/or gangsters.

When was the last time *your* child saw something about a black neighborhood that didn't preach, didn't assume you wished you lived in Africa and wasn't about gangs, rappers or drug violence? ... Read more

Isbn: 0805057218
Sales Rank: 296231
Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Fiction    5. Harlem (New York, N.Y.)    6. Lifestyles - City Life    7. People & Places - United States - African-American    8. Social Situations - Community & Neighborhood    9. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American   

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters
by Andrea Davis Pinkney, Stephen Alcorn
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 September, 2000)
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Reviews (2)

Ten Inspirational Women...
What do Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune and Shirley Chisholm all have in common?They're three of the ten extraordinary African American freedom fighters in Andrea Davis Pinkney's marvelous collection, Let It Shine.These are strong women who didn't just sit back and accept the status quo, but met challenges head on and took action to change the world and make it a better place.These ten dynamic women were never silent, even when they thought no one was listening, faced discrimination, inequality and racism, triumphed in their battles against oppression and for civil rights and inspired those who followed in their footsteps.Told in easy to read, conversational style, each chapter is rich in both anecdotal and historical detail and accompanied by Stephen Alcorn's beautiful and bold oil painting illustrations.Perfect for youngsters 10 and older, Let It Shine also makes a wonderful read-aloud book the entire family can share and enjoy.

Continuing the Legacy
"Let It Shine: The Stories of Ten Black Women Freedom Fighters" is an amazing, entertaining, and educational journey back through time for both children and adults alike.The stories accurately depict the changing face of America for all people.The author, Andrea Davis Pinkney, uses a combination of oral stories and historical facts to re-create the lives of ten African American women "freedom fighters" (a.k.a. civil rights activists.)The descriptive language Pinkney uses keeps the style of the text upbeat and enjoyable.Among the list of women are Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks.However, there is also a presence of many unknown women, such as Shirley Chisholm, an inspirational politician, and Biddy Mason, a one-time slave with never ending generosity.The stories are quite diverse, spanning a history of nearly the entire 20th century.Some of these historical references include the signing of the emancipation proclamation, the peaceful demonstrations of the civil rights movement, and the Democratic Convention of 1968. There is one common, underlying goal of each story- inspiration.From Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad to Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat, there is a sublte undertone that promotes and requires action.These women learned that justice comes from not only speaking, but doing.Their stories and successes encourage people of all ages to get up and fight against inequality. The combination of descriptive oral stories and historical facts, along with the colorful illustrations, keep readers of any age interested in this text. ... Read more

Isbn: 015201005X
Sales Rank: 309957
Subjects:  1. African American women    2. African American women civil r    3. African American women civil rights workers    4. African Americans    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography - People of Color    7. Biography & Autobiography - Political    8. Biography & Autobiography - Social Activists    9. Children's 9-12 - Biography / Autobiography    10. Children: Grades 3-4    11. Civil rights    12. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    13. History    14. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    15. Social Science    16. U.S. - Political And Civil Rights Of Blacks    17. Women In The U.S.    18. Women's Studies - General    19. Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / People of Color