Winner of the Odyssey Award for Audiobook

Jazz by Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by his son Christopher Myers is the Odyssey Award for audiobook winner

I really enjoyed reading and listening to this audiobook and am pleased to have bought it. Its poster-like illustrations and vivacious word choices help portray the poems meaning. It begins with a short introduction into the history of Jazz and ends with a glossary of key words and a timeline outlining important dates to remember. The audio and book match perfectly which makes it easy for the reader to follow along nicely.
This is an auiobook I am going to have in my classroom so I can expose my students to another form of music. I know my students will enjoy listening to the music and narrator just as much as I did.

2008 Best Books for Young Adults

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

by Sherman Alexie is one of the 2008 Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults

Based on his personal experiences, the author creates fictional characters to tell a story about the life of a Native American boy. This story deals with how a young boy breaks away from his destined life in order to follow his own dreams. He changes school to attend an "all white farm school" in order to pursue his studies of becoming a cartoonist. Faced with poverty, racism, and death Arnold Spirit Jr. separates from his tribe in the reservation in hopes of seeking his own identity.

This book has many topics such as a person's handicaps, Native American living in a reservation, the struggle of trying to find your own identify, and the heartbreaking experience of loosing people you love in a drunk-driving car accident. The book is most appropriate for high school students because of the dark humor and language involved. Even though I don't consider this book to fit in my can't put this book down to read category kind-of-books, it was still interesting to read.

2008 Best Books for Young Adults

Touching Snow

by M. Sindy Felin is in the 2008 Best Book for Young Adults List

This book along with "Safe" by Susan Shaw, was out of my comfort zone. I don't enjoy reading books about abuse especially graphic novels such as this one. However, I couldn't stop reading it because I wanted to know how it was going to end. This is a first-person narrative told by Karina, a 14 year-old immigrant from Haiti. You are taken in by the book at the very beginning when you read "The best way to avoid being picked on by high school bullies is to kill someone." Wow, what a way to begin the story! Karina somewhat begins retelling her life's story with the ending, the death of her stepfather. The author graphically describes the many instances of abuse Karina and her siblings endured for years. With the fear of not being able to survive financially without him, Karina's mother discourages them from reporting him to the authorities. However, after a near death experience from one of her stepfather's abusive encounters with her older sister, Karina realizes that she must do something to protect her family. How much torture can a human being endure before taking action? You must read to find out!

Wow, this was such an amazing graphic novel that teaches you about the human's ability to tolerate pain and the courage to make things change. Unfortunately, physical abuse is still very common among families and Karina's story is just one tragic example of the reasons why victims choose to keep silent. The fear of being deported and loosing the financial supporter of the family are two reasons why families might relate to this story. Even though I prefer not to read these kind of books, I think it would be a good idea to do a book talk in a high school classroom, just in case someone might find themselves in similar situations.

2008-2009 Texas 2 x 2

The Perfect Nest

by Catherine Friend is from the Texas 2 x 2 List

My son and I enjoyed reading this hilarious book about a hungry cat named Jack. He was so hungry that he decides to build a "perfect nest" so that he can make and eat a delicious perfect omelet. He uses his "perfect nest" to lure a chicken that will eventually lay an egg. You'll laugh at the pictures as Jack anxiously awaits his future meal. To his surprise, not only did he attract a chicken but also a duck and a goose. At first he was pleased because now he was going to have three omelets. However, the animals didn't want to leave so he tricked them into going to another farm who had a better nest. By the end of the story Jack was starving and could already taste the omelets in his mouth but just as he was going to crack the eggs, they started hatching. Seeing the baby chicks and listening to their cries, Jack could not bare to kill them so he decided to take care of them in his "perfect nest."

I am definitely going to take this book to my classroom because it makes a hilarious read-aloud. The illustrations are also awesome and my eight-year-old son and I have read it many times.

2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

Thalia: Belleza!: Lessons in Lipgloss and Happiness

by Thalia is a 2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers book that deals with "MAKEUP" every girls best and worst friend. This award winning Mexican actress has written this book as a guide to Latin beauty. The book is broken down into chapters on skin, hair, makeup, and inner beauty tips. She includes the do's and don'ts, personal beauty secrets, and tips from the many prestigious makeup artists she has encountered throughout her career.

I LOVE makeup so I enjoyed looking through and reading her beauty tips. A lot of women, including myself, want to know celebrity "beauty secrets" and how they manage to look so good, well this book helps explain it. I think the young and old would enjoy reading this informational book. One of the strenghts this book has is that it is offered in Spanish as well.

2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

Inside Out

by Nadia Shivack is a 2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers book. Just like the story Thin, this too is a graphic novel about anorexia and bulimia. This time, the author takes us on a personal journey as she suffers from these horrid diseases. It all began when she started swimming competitively. By the age of 14 she had a routine of eating and purging. Things were getting out of control even in a trip she took to California. She sought the help of a social worker who specialized in eating disorders, took medications,but nothing really changed. At the age of 40 she admitted herself to an outpatient clinic in New York. Even throughout her counseling sessions, Nadia was caught trying to commit suicide. She found some comfort in drawing and soon found an ounce of hope. Currently she is still trying to recover and heal.

By sharing her story the author hopes to inspire and educate others. One of the things I liked about this book was that along with the authors notes and drawings, there are statistical notes inserted among the pages. Another strength this book offers is the list of resources that might be helpful to someone.

Finalists for the 2008 National Book Award in Young People's Literature

Story of a Girl
by Sara Zarr is one of the Finalists for the 2008 National Book Award in Young People's Literature

Unfortunately, I think this book is one that many teenage girls could relate to. Deanna is a 13 year-old girl who was caught having sex by her father. In reality, teenagers probably get caught by other family members besides the dad. Her experience with Tommy, the 17 year-old boy whom she had sex with in the back seat of his car, labeled her "the school slut." For three years she was haunted by shame and guilt. To make her family situation worse, her brother gets his girlfriend pregnant and moves into their small house. Wanting to help her brother, his girlfriend, the baby, and herself move out of their house, she decides to get a summer job. Her haunting past creeps back when she discovers that Tommy also works in the same place. Struggling to change her ways, Deanna ends up forgiving Tommy and herself so that she can move on and make a new life for herself.
This is good eye opener for girls who are exploring with sex at a young age. This book helps them see that actions have consequences and hopefully girls will learn a valuable lesson by reading this book.

2008-2009 Texas 2 x 2

Pip & Squeak

by author and illustrator Ian Schoenherr is a 2008-2009 Texas 2 x 2 book. The story begins as two mice siblings named Pip (boy) and Squeak (sister) are busy getting ready to go to their friends Gus's birthday party. Readers can see the beautifully acrylic painted illustrations of them wrapping a big piece of cheese. An unexpected snowstorm fills the streets with snow but they manage to open their door and away they trapeze through wires to get to the party. Unfortunately, because they were in such a hurry Pip forgets to bring the gift. Their adventure begins in the middle of the story when they are trying to look amongst the overwhelming snow for something to give Gus as a gift. Dashing through the snow covered lawns they come across what they think is the "perfect gift." They climb on top of a snowman and grab the huge orange piece of "cheese-looking" object. Without realizing it's the snowman's nose, a carrot and not a piece of cheese, they give it to Gus as their gift.

I really enjoyed reading this book because of its illustrations and facial expressions made by these two adorable characters. I think young readers will enjoy this book with their parents.

2008 Best Books for Young Adults

Notes From the Midnight Driver

by Jordan Sonnenblick is a book from the 2008-2008 TAYSHA list

Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. The story turned out to be totally different than what I had expected it when I read the first couple of chapters. The story is about a 16 year old boy named Alex who lives with his mom because his parents are divorced. His best friend Laurie, also comes from a divorced family but lives with her dad. On one of the nights that his mom when out on a date, Alex decides to get drunk and takes the car without permission. He ends up smashing into a plastic garden elf on top of someones lawn. After being interrogated at the police station, and stitched up at the hospital, a judge orders him to volunteer 100 hours at a nursing home. Once there he gets assigned to take care of an elderly man by the name of Solomon Lewis. At first Alex asked the judge to give him some other duties but by the middle of the story he ends up asking for more hours. Alex and Sol end up sharing more than just conversations.

Towards the end of the story I was practically in tears. This was such a GREAT story! Some chapters made me laugh, with the way Alex would say things and I love Mr. Lewis's character. This story had a little bit of what some teenagers can relate to: divorce, anger, resentment, forgiveness, and love. I highly recommend this book to all teenagers. The things that happened in the story are very realistic and maybe some of these things could have happened to you already.

2008-2009 TAYSHA

The Thirteenth Tale

by Diane Setterfield is a book from the TAYSHA list

This is a story about a haunting past of a distinguished author Vida Winter. She decides to tell her tragic past to a young biographer named Margaret Lea. She lives above an antiquated bookstore and has been around books most of her life. At the end Margaret not only helps Vida confront the ghosts from her past but learns to deal with some of her own. You won't want to stop reading until Vida's secret is revealed.

Since I love mystery, this story had me hanging by the tips of my toes. When Margaret came upon the book in her bookstore called, "The Thirteenth Tale" and discovered that it only contained 12 chapters, it made her and I want to find out why. I was intrigued with Vida Winter's childhood stories and as she came to her death bed towards the end of the story, I was dreading for her to die before she could concluded her life story with the secretive truth Margaret and I were waiting for. I won't spoil it for you so you must read the book to find out!

2008-2009 TAYSHA

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You

by Hanna Jansen is a book from the TAYSHA list

This is a story full of sadness, tragedy courage, and the inner strength for survival. It deals with a young girl named Jeanne, a survivor of the Rawandan Genocide. Her foster mom, Hanna Jansen, turned her daughter's horrendous stories into print by writing this book. Every chapter begins with a note from Jansen. After all the killing, torture, and horrid situations Jeanne found herself in time and time again, it's so hard to believe she has survived to retell the stories.

Every time I read these kind of stories I give thanks to God for allowing me to live in a country that believes in democracy. I'm also thankful I didn't get to experience or live in the era of racial discrimination and suffer harsh treatments. I don't think I would've survive so long like the way Henry Brown in Henry's Freedom Box, Juan Francisco Manzano from The Poet Slave of Cuba or Jeanne did. Stories like these makes you appreciate where you live and what you have.

2008-2009 Texas 2 X 2

Babies In the Bayou

by author and illustrator Jim Arnosky is a 2008-2009 Texas 2 x 2 book that deals animals in the wild and the cycle of life. The author uses simple language and a repeated refrain to describe the animals that live in a bayou. The beautiful acrylic colors he uses in his illustrations makes this story more inviting. It all begins with an alligator and her babies. Then it moves on to a raccoon with her babies in which she teaches them how to dig for turtle eggs. We then follow the baby turtles journey into the water. In the next picture we see baby ducks and their momma which drives them away from danger. Ultimately, we are taken back into the alligator illustrations whom are eyeing the ducks for dinner.

This book teaches young children about wild animals, their habitats, and nature's ecosystem. I love the vivid adjectives the author uses to describe each animal. This would make a cute addition in the science section of our classroom library.

2008 Notable Books for Children

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity

by Mo Willems is a 2008 Notable Book for Children award winner. It is a sequel to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. It's a humorous picture book about a young girl and her "one-of-a-kind" knuffle bunny. Trixie, the main character, can't wait to show off her bunny at school. Once at school, she discovers that her classmate Sonja also has an identical knuffle bunny. Because she was getting into trouble at school, the teacher takes away their bunnies. However, at the end of the day they were returned to their rightful owners. YIKES, at 2:00 A.M. Trixie realizes she has the wrong bunny and in a frantic panic awakes her parents. Reluctantly her dad agrees to call Sonja's parents in hope they could exchange bunnies. They agree to meet and the story ends in a happy note with each girl having the right knuffle bunny. Not only does Trixie regain her bunny back but also gained her first best friend.

I really thought this was a cute book especially because my 8 year old son still sleeps with his bunny and has similar attacks whenever he can't find it. My son made me buy this book for him and enjoys reading it time and time again. I also liked the combination of cartoon characters and the black-and-white Brooklyn photographs.

2008 Notable Books for Children

First the Egg

by Laura Vaccaro Seeger is a 2008 Notable Books for Children book. I wish I had this book back in the days when my children were toddlers asking me what comes first, the chicken or the egg? This is an excellent book about sequencing, patterns, and transformations. It has a continuous pattern of words beginning with "First the... then the..." From the egg to the chicken, tadpole to frog, seed to flower, caterpillar to butterfly and so on until the final pages brings us full circle to the chicken laying the egg. Every other page has a die-cut and when the reader flips the page, we can see the cutout in two contexts. The vibrant oil on canvas illustrations and die-cut pictures help reveal whats on the other side of the page.

I think both children and adults will love this book. I have a similar book in my classroom and my fourth graders enjoy reading and flipping the pages back-and-forth to these kind of books.

2008 Notable Books for Children

Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

by Ellen Levine is a 2008 Notable Books for Children book that deals with bravery and the strength of the human spirit. This book is based on the true accounts of a runaway slave from Virginia named Henry Brown. The story begins with a picture of Henry sitting on top of a wooden barrel. He didn't know how old he was because slaves were never allowed to know their birthdays. One day his mother explained to him that many children were torn away from their families and that it might happen to them. Henry longed to be free so when their sickly master called him and his mother to come to his bedside he was hoping to be set free. To his discontent, his master told him he was giving him to his son. He was now experiencing what his mother so warned him about. The dreadful day had come and he was being torn away from his family. As he grew up, he married and once again his wife and children were torn away from him. They were sold at the slave market. Determined to be free he enlisted the help of a local doctor who was opposed to slavery. With his help, he was put inside a wooden crate and mailed out to some of the doctors friends. After 27 days he had finally arrived in Philadelphia. Not only was it his first day of freedom but now Henry had a birthday, March 30, 1849.

The story is richly enhanced by the watercolor, oil, and pencil illustrations. This is a personal account of the injustices of slavery and will help young readers understand the concept of slavery. I was practically in tears as I was reading.

2008 Notable Books for Children

The Many Rides of Paul Revere

by James Cross Giblin is a 2008 Notable Books for Children's book and an informative biography that takes you throughout the different life stages of Paul Revere. The story is divided into chapters with the first one dealing with Paul's parents and his early childhood experiences. We get to learn that he becomes a silversmith, a master craftsman, and a diligent businessman. Through the chapters we also learned that he joined the Massachusetts militia, Fraternities, became close friends with the city's leading thinkers such as John Hancock and Dr. Joseph Warren, practiced dentistry, and rode many horse rides as a messenger on behalf of the Revolution. The book includes archival photographs, maps, engravings, and documents. There's also a timeline, a detailed commentary about Paul Revere's related sites to visit in the Boston area, source notes, illustration credits, and an index. All of these things help entice the reader and make this to be an interesting piece of reading.

This is an excellent book to have as part of your social studies library. The language is not difficult for older elementary students to read.

2008 Notable Books for Children

Lightship

by Brian Floca is a 2008 Notable Children's book and begins with a detailed diagram drawing of a lightship. This pictorial story has fictional characters retelling true accounts of lightships that once existed in the 1800's in the United States. The lightship's crew and pet cat take us along their daily routine. There purpose was to guide other boats towards safe waters. They would sail and float around our waters in areas where lighthouses could not be built. With the help of its water-colored illustrations we get an inside look of the ship. As crew members are busy working, cooking, and sleeping we see a picture of a cat just wondering around the grounds of the lightship. The story ends with the same diagram of the lightship that is found at the beginning of the story.

This is a cute book for young elementary children to read especially those who are interested in boats. My eight year old son enjoyed reading it and found it hilarious to have the picture of the cat here-and-there throughout the book.

2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

Safe

by Susan Shaw is one of the 2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers. This story is written in first-person narrative. Tracy, a 13 year old girl, recounts her life story. The story begins at her mom's funeral when she was just 3 years old. Then the story jumps to when she is 13 years old. For Tracy feeling "safe" meant having her mother close by. She could still feel her mother's presence years after her mom's death. However, all that changed on the last day of seventh grade when she was walking home from school. A car stopped beside her and pulled her into the car. The next thing she knew she was in the emergency room being treated. This book encapsulates what it feels like to be a victim of rape. She struggles to find her way back on feeling "safe" again. She decides to cut herself off from others and refuses to deal with what happened even after going to several therapy sessions. Tracy slowly progresses to recovery with the help of her father, piano instructor, and friends.

Despite the pain and suffering Tracy endured, she shows the reader that through courage, hope, and love one can overcome this horrid tragedy. When I started reading the book I was hoping it wouldn't contain any details of the rape itself, especially during the trial section of the story. I am so glad the author decided to leave those details out of the story and concentrate on Tracy's road to recovery. With date rape happening among teenagers, I think a lot of girls will either relate or know someone who could relate with Tracy.

2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

Thin

by Lauren Greenfield is a 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers. This is the book version from her documentary also called Thin. The author gives us a first hand look into the world of two terrible eating disorders called anorexia and bulimia. You will be blown away by the combinations of pictures and the words taken from both the medical professionals and with those that have been inflicted by this horrid disease. The book contains nineteen testimonies from a variety of women who have admitted themselves at the Renfrew Center in Coconut Creek, Florida in hopes to overcome this disease. Each patient has openly shared their personal diaries and intimate photographs. You will get to learn theirs thoughts and fears.

Wow, this book was an eye opener. I was shocked to read about a 14 year old girl that is from the same city as I am from. Not only do you learn about the disease but you get an inside look into how it affects people. It's hard not to want to be "skinny" with all the actors, actresses, and models that you see in movies, commercials, advertisements, etc... You can't help want to look like them and feel like you fit the "social picture." I recommend this book to teenagers and adults because the disease does not discriminate on age.

2008 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

Class Pictures

is a 2008 Quick Pics for Reluctant Readers. This is a collection of portraits that photographer Dawoud Bey took of a diverse group of teenage students. Each large scale photo has the student's autobiographical statements. He spend two to three weeks in a selected school taking photographs. The book ends with an interview between Dawoud Bey and Carrie Mae Weems, an ex-student of Bey's.

I thought this was much like a year-book without the autobiographies. It is not my type of book but I guess teenagers will enjoy reading about other teenagers. It could also be used as a reference in a photography class.

2008 Best Books for Young Adults

The Arrival

by Shaun Tan is in the 2008 Best Book for Young Adults list. I was amazed how the author by means of only using illustrations, was still able to convey his story. This is a wordless pictorial narrative that tells the story of an immigrant. He leaves his family behind in hopes of searching for a better life. Pullman uses drawings of various sizes to tell his story. The reader is able to comprehend the immigrants feelings of isolation, fear, and joy.

I was amazed with this book. The sketch-like drawings are awesome. Many people could probably relate to this book because of either their family's past or present experiences with immigration.

2008 Best Books for Young Adults

A Long Way Gone- Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
by Ishmael Beah is one of the Top Ten 2008 Best Books for Young Adults

Oh-my-gosh, this book reminded me so much of another book called "Over a Thousand Hills I Walk With You" by Hanna Jansen. The main characters from these two books are survivors of terrible crimes that have happened to them and their families in the countries where they are from. The other book was based on factual stories told from a Genocide Rawandan survivor. This book is told from a village boy's point-of-view who lived in Sierra Leone. In 1993, his life got turned upside down when rebels invaded his village killing almost everyone. At just 12 years old, he witnessed the most horrendous acts that any child could ever see. He along with other traumatized boys traveled along the countryside looking for family, food, and shelter. At 13 years old he was picked up by the government army, was given drugs, and trained to shoot an AK-47. He spent about two years, watching movies, taking drugs, and brutally murdering his enemies. Finally, he was rescued by a UNICEF team and slowly rehabilitated in a group home for child soldiers. He was given an opportunity to address a UN committee in New York City to discuss about the lives of children in Sierra Leone and what can be done about it. Thankfully to this experience, Ishmael is still alive to retell this amazing story of tragedy and survival.
Wow, it's appalling to read and learn about what people in other counties are going through. I think, we are blessed to live in a free country and we so often take for granted the things we have. Well, this true story is an eye opener and makes you count your blessings. Everyone should read this story starting with high school students. It is very graphic in nature and you will definitely shed a tear or two. It's amazing that even today, about 300 children are being taken away from their home and forced to kill in their country's war.

2008 Batcheider Award or Honor Book

The Cat Or, How I Lost Eternity

by Jutta Richter is the 2008 Batchelder Award winner.

This is kind of a strange story about an eight year old girl named Christine and a talking alley cat. On her way to school, Christine is always stopped by a talking cat who seems to want to have endless conversations. They talk about math, loneliness, and eternity. By the time she realizes, she arrives late to school on a daily basis. Finally, the principal calls her in and wants an explanation to her tardiness. Reluctant to tell the truth Christine tells him that a talking cat always stops her on her way to school. Of course, the principal doesn't believe a word she says so he tells her to write 200 lines stating repeatedly, "There are no talking cats and in the future I will come to class on time." She is forced to obey even though she totally knows that line is not entirely true. However, the cat pops into the picture and continues to give her advice. She tries to keep him off her mind and chasing him away one day. The next morning as she is walking to school, the cat hisses at her in anger for being chased away. Part of her wants to apologize but keeps on walking and arrives at school on time. She decides to complete the 200 lines and takes away the "no" in the sentence hoping the teacher wouldn't notice. However, after having one last conversation about the "Tree of Knowledge" Christine decides never to talk to the cat again.

This story was a bit strange in my opinion. I think the purpose of the talking cat was just to expose the little girl into different ways of thinking. He has his own philosophy of why and how things in life work so he is trying to explain all this to the little girl.

Winner of the 2008 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration

Let it Shine

by Ashley Bryan is the winner of the 2008 Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration. The book is about three popular spiritual songs called: "This Little Light of Mind," "Oh, When the Saints Go Marching In," and "He's Got The Whole World in His Hands." The picture of the scissors at the beginning of the story leads the reader to believe that she uses a colorful array of what seems to be construction paper cut-outs that she so cleverly uses as a collage to go along with each song. She uses the cut-outs to create a variety of scenes. Some of those scenes are of people dancing, praying, playing outside, in the city, and in the darkness. There is also a garden and a jungle with cut-out animal pictures. The author also provides the lyrics to these songs at the end of the book followed by a note from her.

I fell in love with the beautiful bold color cut-out collages she used to go along with each song. This is a good addition to your art collection of books.

Winner of the 2008 Coretta Scott King Award for Text

Elijah of Buxton
by Christopher Paul Curtis is the winner of the 2008 Coretta Scott King Award for Text

If you enjoyed reading "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" and "Bud, Not Buddy," then you'll definitely enjoy another one of Curtis's award winning historical fictional books. This is the story of an eleven year old boy named Elijah who lives in Buxton, Canada. This is a place, over the border from Detroit, where runaway slaves sought refuge and live free. What makes Elijah special in this settlement is that he was the first child to be "born free" from former slaves and because of an incident that happened when Mr. Frederick Douglass went to make a speech in Buxton. In the beginning of the story, Elijah seems to be your typical mischievous, curious, and playful young boy. However, the story becomes more interesting when Elijah finds out that a former slave stole Mr. Leroy's savings. Elijah decides to pursue the thief and he embarks on a life-changing journey. He learns about the struggles that his parents suffered and ends up bringing back with him a slave couple's baby girl.
This was another great book written by an award winning author. Even though the plot and most of the characters are fictional, the issues such as cultural diversity, slavery, and maturity are very much real. This is a good book to use during Social Studies or Black History Month. I think many students today can relate with Elijah and everyone young and old can enjoy reading the book.

Winner of the 2008 Belpre Award for Illustration

Los Gatos Black on Halloween

by Marisa Montes is the winner of the 2008 Belpre Award for Illustration. I think boys will especially love this book of creepy and spooky creatures that lurk around late at night on this Halloween Day. The author incorporates Spanish words and converts them into a bilingual rhythmic poem describing a moonlit Halloween night. The use of dim turquoise and brown hues illuminated with fuchsia and flame orange colors help set the spooky-like tone. The reader will practically encounter every object associated with Halloween such as "los gatos negros," las brujas," "los esqueletos," pumpkins, mummies, wolfman, ghouls, zombies, and much more. They are all parading towards a haunted "casa" so they could have a "monstrous ball." However, at the end of the story a group of trick-or-treaters crash their party and they all retreat.

I think this book will be loved by many young readers, especially boys, because of the creepy characters. One of the book's strengths is the glossary that is found at the end of the book to help the none Spanish speakers. Young elementary readers might be frightened with some of the illustrations but overall it's a keeper in my classroom library.

Winner of the 2008 Belpre Award for Text

The Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano is written by Margarita Engle and is winner of the 2008 Belpre Award for Text

In this book you will find a collection of poems written in verse that tell horrendous stories of a Cuban slave. They all deal with mental, emotional, and physically abuse caused by a woman named La Marquesa de Prado Ameno. Juan's first owner promised him and his family that they would all be set free. However, after she died Juan was given to La Marquesa de Prado Ameno and suffered years of torture. He was locked in cellars, slashed with the whip, tied to a chair and gaged, had his ankles tied up in shackles and tied to a cross and the list of torture and torment go on-and-on. But, through all his pain and suffering, Juan never gave up reciting and writing poems. Sometimes La Marquesa de Prado Ameno's son, Don Nicolas and their overseer, would show him some acts of compassion. Don Nicolas would take Juan to the city or the overseer would give him less lashes with the whip.

Juan's mother never gave up in trying to pay for her son's freedom. Unfortunately she died and never got to see him free. In the last poem we learn that Juan eventually escapes. Like many of his favorite poems that he memorized, Juan was now free as a "feather."

I couldn't just read one poem; I had to read all of them in one sitting. His poems tragically recount the many ways slaves were tortured. Slavery is a something that unfortunately existed and because of courageous and strong willingly people like Juan Francisco Manzano we are fortunate to learn about it. Even today, some people suffer in a daily babies from spousal or parental abuse. Just watch the news or read the newspaper and you'll find out about the many cases where children have been fatally abused by their parents or others. I know it is not the same kind of abuse that slaves went through but it's still a form of abuse.

Winner of the 2008 Schneider Family Award

Kami and the Yaks

by Andrea Stenn Stryer is the winner of the 2008 Schneider Family Award

This story is about a young deaf Sherpa boy, whose family earns a living by guiding mountain climbers, setting up camp, cooking, and carrying their gear on yaks in the Himalayas. One day, Kami notices his father and brother searching for their four yaks because they were going on one of the treks. He used his tin whistle to call the yaks but there was no response. He thought that was odd because the yaks would normally come to him after hearing the whistle. The story continues as Kami begins to search for them on his own. Climbing through rocks and thick brush, he finally finds them. However, the smallest yak had gotten his foot stuck in a crevice. With hail and lightning knocking down on him he hurried back to get help from his father and brother. Trying to use hand signs to communicate, Kami finally gets through to his brother and save the yaks.

This was a great book to read and an inspiration to deaf children. By reading this book children will learn that anything can be accomplished through perseverance, strength, and determination despite one's handicaps.

Winner of the 2008 Geisel

There Is a Bird on Your Head!

by Mo Willems is the winner of the 2008 Geisel award. I was laughing as I read and flipped the pages. This is a simple picture book of a gray elephant and a pink pig. The book is limited with words but the character expressions made by these two characters is hilarious. The story begins with them two sitting back-to-back enjoying each other's company. All of a sudden the elephant feels something land on his head and asks the pig if there is something on his head. The pig answers "There is a bird on your heard." As the story continues not only does he have a bird, he gets another bird in which they build a nest and lay three eggs that soon hatch into baby chicks. All along the pig finds these things amusing until at the end of the story the elephant asks the birds if they could move and end up on top of the pigs head.

This book was hilarious and the young and older reader will find it amusing.

Winner of the 2008 Sibert

The Wall Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

by Peter Sis is winner of the 2008 Sibert award

This is mostly a picture book with small notes from the author describing the illustrations. They retell the author's memoirs about life under communism in Prague and the thirst for liberation. It also contains an introductory and closing notes, a historical timeline, diary excerpts, childhood drawings, and family photos. All of these things were put together to help explain to his American family how life used to be growing up in during the postwar Communist-dominated Czechoslovakia. The government build a wall to separate the East and West blocs. People wanted to be liberated and experience the American pleasures that people in the West experienced. After long years of the Cold War and the totalitarian government control, the "Iron Wall" finally came down in 1989.

This was a very interesting book about freedom. We often take for granted what we have and never stop to think how other countries don't enjoy the same rights as we do. There has been many times I've talked to my students about our country's history and how things used to be and they can't believe it. I could use this book whenever we discuss the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and freedom in general.

Winner of the 2008 Caldecott

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

is a Caldecott Honor book winner written by honor-winning author and illustrator Brian Selznick. He uses full page black-and-while illustrations interspersed throughout the novel to help immerse the readers into the story's plot. It is a magnificent mystery tale of an an orphaned boy named Hugo Cabret. When his father died Hugo went to live as an apprentice clock keeper with his uncle in one of Paris's train stations. However, after the disappearance of his uncle he decided to attend the clocks himself. He manages to survive by stealing food and in keeping his uncle's disappearance a secret. He is left behind with only his father's notebook and an automation in which he steals small toy parts in hopes of fixing it. He hopes the automation will reveal a secret message left behind by his deceased father. The plot thickens towards the middle of the book when his most treasured notebook gets taken away from him by a toy store owner. Can Hugo finish fixing the automation without the sketches from his father's notebook? Well, you will just have to read the book yourself.

If you love mystery, this is the book for you. So this book was an excellent read for me because I love suspense and mystery books. At first sight I was overwhelmed with the book's thickness. However, I was gladly relieved to find that a lot of the pages are illustrations. They actually help fill in the gap while I was reading.

2008 Newberry Honor Book

The Wednesday Wars

2008 Newberry Honor Book by Gary D. Schmidt

Life is not what it seems, that's what Holling Hoodhood learned in seventh grade. Since the first day of school, Hoodhood thinks that his English teacher, Mrs. Baker hates his guts. Starting at 1:40 P.M. half of Holling's class goes to Hebrew School while the other half goes to Catechism, except him, who is the only Presbyterian student who has to stay in for class on Wednesday afternoons with Mrs. Baker. This is why he thinks his teacher has gone into war against him. He tries to find "soldiers" to back him up but neither his mom, dad, or sister believe him. His dad however, warns him to stay on her good side because it might hurt a pending business deal with the Baker family. So, for his dad's sake, he does everything she tells him to do. At the beginning, Wednesday afternoons weren't so bad because Mrs. Baker had him do classroom chores such as cleaning the erasers. Then he had to clean Sycorax's and Caliban's, which are two rats, cages. However, after a month Mrs. Baker decided to introduce Holling to some of Shakespeare's plays. He thought cleaning rat cages was bad enough. By mid-year, Wednesday afternoons turned out to be enjoyable rather than a war zone. By the end of the story, Holling Hoodhood had survived the rat chase , the Shakespearean Plays, bullying, humiliations, and a young romance. Both he and Mrs. Baker learned not to judge a book by its cover.

This book contains many themes ranging from the Vietnam War and bullying to young love and friendship. I really enjoyed this book because of its relevancies to real -life situations that teenagers go through. I was taken back to my college years when several of the book titles or stories I read in the past were mentioned in this book. It even mentioned Treasure Island, which is one of the audios I had to evaluate for this class. I highly recommend this book to not only the students but adults as well.

2008 Newberry Honor Book

Feathers

by Jacqueline Woodson is winner of a Newbery Honor

The story is about a somewhat typical group of 6 grade students who are taken by surprise when a new student walks in their all African American classroom. The new student happens to be "White," as they call him and resembles Jesus. So they give him the nickname Jesus Boy. Frannie, an African American and her best friend Samantha, who reads the bible very often, really start wondering if this new student is really "Jesus." He seems to possess "Jesus" like qualities, according to Frannie and Samantha. Because Frannie is infatuated with Emily Dickinson's poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul..." she questions herself and her family about some of the situations going on in her life, and skeptically believes that Jesus boy might really be message from God. However, after an encounter with the school bully, Trevor and Jesus boy, Frannie and Samantha are regretfully disappointed about their suspicions. Frannie learns that hope is among everyone including herself.

I was curious and anxious to get to the end of the story because I, just like the characters in the story, wanted to know the real reason why he had moved from the "White neighborhood" to the "African American neighborhood." Since some of the characters were questioning about his race, I also thought Jesus boy would reveal the answer at the end of the story. Well, I was left with my own conclusions. I think middle school students would enjoy reading this book. It deals with subjects such as racial discrimination, segregation, handicaps, bullies, and hope.

Winner of the 2008 Newberry

Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village

by Laura Amy Schlitz is the winner of the 2008 Newberry award

This clever Baltimore Park school librarian created this piece of work for some of her students that were studying about the Middle Ages. She created 17 monologues and two dialogues so that all her students has a part. The play takes place in a fictional village around an English manor in the year 1255. Readers will get to meet blacksmiths, peasants, maidens, and monks just to name a few of the characters. Some of the monologues are written in verse and some in prose yet they are all interconnected.

I thought the forward was honest and I like the part when she says, "And you can skip it, if you're in a hurry." I also like the way she offers pages called, "A little background." These are found at the beginning of the different scenes. I think middle or high school students would enjoy performing this play. I remember my English high school teacher loved giving us short plays to act. It was a lot of fun!

2008 Printz Honor Book

Your Own Sylvia

by Stephanie Hemphill is a 2008 Printz Honor Book

Stephanie Hemphill does an extraordinary job in relating the life of one of America's young poet, Sylvia Plath. This book contains poems written in verse of Hemphill's interpretations from Sylvia's interest, influences, and the many people she encountered throughout her life. The poems are written from different points-of-view of people who knew her since childhood to adulthood. At the end of each poem the reader will get further insight as to the poem's background by reading the footnotes. The book also contains author's notes and a bibliography in case you want to further research the life of Sylvia Plath.

I enjoyed reading "Your Own, Sylvia- a verse portrait of Sylvia Plath" and the writing style the author chose. There are many topics in her poems such as childhood years, education, boyfriends, careers, marriage, children, and suicide. Through the poems we're able to get a glimpse into the life of a remarkable, talented, and misunderstood woman. This is a good resource to use in secondary and high school English/literature classes.

2008 Printz Honor Book

One Whole & Perfect Day

by Judith Clarke is a 2008 Printz Honor Book

Lily, the protagonist of the story, is a seventeen year old girl who cooks, cleans, and worries about getting things done around the house. She feels she is the ONLY responsible and sane person in her family. Her mom works at an adult day-care center and often brings some of her patients home. The story's main plot is about a birthday party that is being planned for her grandpa named Pop. However, because Lily's brother Lonnie and her grandpa are not in talking terms, Lily feels everything will be disastrous. She wishes so much to have a "normal" family and hopes to have "a perfect day" at her grandpa's party.

One of the things I liked about this story was each characters voice. It makes the story interesting and fun to read. It also involves themes such as love and friendship, which are things that everyone can relate to. I wonder, is there such thing as a "perfect or normal family?" I don't think Lily is the only one that has questioned her family's behavior or wished for things to be different.

Winner of the 2008 Printz Award

The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughran

Winner of the 2008 Printz Award

Symone (Sym) is hearing impaired and lost her father when she was young. Her father's business partner "Uncle" Victor took care of the funeral arrangements, attended to their family business, and helped her and her mom financially. Sym was convinced that her "Uncle" Victor loved her more than her father and believed she was a total disappointment to her father because of her impairment. Well, that is what Victor led her to believe. She became obsessed with the Antarctic ever since her "Uncle" Victor introduced her to books and stories about it. She even gains an imaginary friend named Captain Lawrence Oates (Titus), an Army officer who went in an expedition to the South Pole with Captain Robert Falcon Scott in 1911. She becomes so infatuated with Titus that she confides all her hopes and fears to him. This mental relationship plays an important role in the story. "Uncle" Victor takes Sym to her dream trip to the Antarctic but it quickly changes from a dream to a nightmare. Along this adventurous journey, Sym will discover that nothing is really what it seems to be. Along with love comes deception and Sym will not only be heartbroken by a young man but also by her "Uncle" Victor whom she considered a father figure.

This story started interesting and contained great detail in describing one of nature's beauty. However, it started getting a little confusing towards the end of the story. I had to reread a couple of times, trying to figure out what was going on. I was shocked by the ending and was kept on the edge of my seat, which made me continue reading trying to find out what was going to happen next. However, I think there was too much dialogue between Sym and her imaginary friend Titus. This story deals with adventure, love, deception, obsession, and the quest for survival.