SO, WHAT'S IT LIKE NOT TO RECEIVE THE CALL? and OUR LIBRARIAN WON'T TELL US ANYTHING!

So, the big American Library Association (ALA) Awards have been announced,and an integral part of winning the Newbery or Caldecott is getting "the call," a rrrring-rrrring that is described at the acceptance speeches of such awards and echo through the annals of time and back issues of The Horn Book Magazine. Sigh! This time of year is always a very tiring one for me, with all the journalists on my front lawn, lounging about and waiting to badger me with the same old question, "So, Esme, what's it like not to receive the call?" Let me say, for public record, it is a wee bit like:
Being the mother of a daughter that gets stood up for prom;
Being Pandora and watching all of the vices of the box flying out, taking Hope along as hostage;
Being like the beautiful and talented Lana Turner, who was sitting at the counter of Schwab's drugstore soda fountain on Sunset Boulevard when she was discovered, only unlike Lana Turner you don't get discovered and you reach the bottom of that soda and you sip at it until it makes that horrible sound through the straw and there's nothing left but the phlegmmy foam and there really is just no choice but to order another damn soda.
But, no biggie. They say, that which does not kill us makes us stronger, or at least prepares us for the inevitable, so win-win! Personally, I can understand why The Today Show, which hosts the winners the morning after, does not want me on their program! I would have wasted all that valuable air time inquiring why women journalists on morning news programs seem to have such an awfully hard time pronouncing the letter "g" at the end of words! ("We're see-een a lot of fighteen in Iraq," "This team seems to be winneen," "What are you goeen to do, with all these mortgage rates rye-seen?") So please! I'm no whiner! There is a master plan at work! I'm not complaineen! Nothing like a good ol'-fashioned chance for spiritual growth! How fortifyeen and invigorateen! How stimulateen!

If I may put my unfortunate Gen-X seizure aside and be sincere for a moment, my favorite part of Newbery and Caldecott season is a side effect that happens prior to announcement day: the mock awards. This is the aspect that, to my mind, actually accomplishes what librarians, booksellers, bloggers and booklovers set out to do: get people reading and discussing books, celebrating the inroads, risk-taking and general delights of the year. Mostly held through public libraries, any potentially enthusiastic reader is a qualified judge, which is more authentic to what writers envision when they consider their audience. Children are often included in mock committees, which offers up the amazing facet of the intended audience directly participating. I love the mock lists, which are longer than the final lists of ALA winners, and offer a broader range for varying tastes; again, more authentic to the actual experience of choosing a book. I love the discussions, which, thanks to the internet, are increasingly inviting, inclusive and informative. The actual ALA awards, to an outside observer, can seem mysterious, clandestine and mathematical. As one who shed actual bitter tears when Jeanne DuPrau's CITY OF EMBER did not even receive a nod in its year, I was left to wonder, did it really even get its due behind those closed doors? Was the real, long-standing market for these award winners, the classroom, deeply considered? Who slept with whom, or could more whom-sleeping have somehow helped? There's no real way of knowing. With the mock awards, not only can we be certain if our favorites are being read, we can lobby. I often wish at least one of the ALA honors would go to the collective winner of the mock awards, not only for the self-serving reason of having a snowball's chance in, uh, Texas, but also because then the award would in some small part represent participation by the library patron as well as the librarian.

Luckily, in the case of CITY OF EMBER, the book still found its audience. But the announcement of the awards is indeed, for many quiet and wonderful and underpublicized books, so poignant. Though any published author is very fortunate and with many blessings to count, I still imagine disappointment. With the announcement of the awards to the deserving few, I mourned for the deserving many who got buzz only to be stung. Thinking of the good-natured and talented spirits behind A DROWNED MAIDEN'S HAIR, of YELLOW STAR, of THE KING OF ATTOLIA, with so many rallying cries for their acknowledgement, how could we not have hoped against hope for the big stickers? There are simply not enough to go around. I don't know exactly what I think of an award that can reduce a perfectly strong and talented modern person (certainly not me, but perhaps others, mind you), to some sad Sandra Dee, sitting by the phone (or doing something else so it doesn't seem like sitting by the phone). It's enough to make a person go into some nice, award-free occupation, like painting. Or waitressing. Or selling things on Ebay. Or jumping out of cakes. Or being a sherpa. Things. Things, maybe, suggested in the help wanted ads on Craigslist. I repeat: per usual, I am thinking and caring about others. I absoultely did not go out and buy WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE. After all, there are many copies in the public library.

I know, I digress, and here you are, still wondering: where was I in that momentous moment when I did not receive the call? After all, though it may come as a surprise to some since I hardly ever, ever mention it, this year I had a book out, too. I had a chance, a Wonka Bar waiting to be torn open. I was in the school library where I teach, and I must admit, I jumped a little when the phone rang, an unsuspecting Usborne representative confirming an appointment. But for the most part, while the trumpets were being sounded in Seattle, I was busy reading aloud from an old, out-of-print anthology to a group of third graders, a truly lovely story called "The Long Nosed Princess" by Priscilla Halloway. The pages had yellowing edges and loose threads dangled from the spine, but the words inside still were captivating, alive, unlost. I was busy explaining to children the concept of "yucky cover, yummy book." I leaned into this volume, the corners battered from years of backpack travel into frayed, greying curves, a book without pictures and missing letters on the spine. I modeled how to smell it. Book smells are very important. Can you smell the glue, the years of pages turning? As the children voraciously checked out titles that were no longer in catalogs or mentioned in newspapers or had a chance for awards or even had authors or illustrators who were alive, I still liked to imagine that in the spirit world somewhere, a telephone was ringing, with the announcement of every writer's coveted, and often unspoken, prize: longevity. Booklovers, booksharers, please know that you give that prize with every book you read, and recommend.

Congratulations to the ALA winners, wonderful and deserving all. I envy you (hey, just a little) and admire you (a lot), and root for you as you represent our genre. Congratulations to the committees, mock and official, for working tirelessly to make good decisions and setting a bar that will bring out the best in all of us. Most of all, congratulations to everyone who put their heart into making a book this year. You may not have received a call, but if you could see a child reading what you have created, you would know that you answered one.

And in honor of the ALA, I am going to recommend a book by one of my all-time favorite librarian/authors:
PICTURE BOOK
OUR LIBRARIAN WON'T TELL US ANYTHING! by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa (readily available through Upstart Books) Mrs. Skorupski comes off as less than helpful to Carmen, who visits the library looking for fast answers. New student Robert, though, has a little more patience for Mrs. Skorupski's approach. Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day, teach a man to fish, or to do research, and...! This book is a wonderfully contemporary tool for empowering kids to use resources, told with good cheer in the context of a realistic library success story for children 7 and up. Though the book is a treat, the library skill lessons included are worth the cost alone, a booklet full of fabulous projects, reproducibles, checklists, internet links and rubrics, all "teacher-ese" for must-have! I can't wait to try the claymation project suggested! Just as Toni Buzzeo did with her invaluable TERRIFIC CONNECTIONS WITH AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS AND STORYTELLERS: REAL SPACE AND VIRTUAL LINKS, considered by many to be the definitive guide to author visits, she has created yet another title that will breathe new life into library media centers. Also, check out her many popular picture books, including DAWDLE DUCKLING (3 and up)and THE SEA CHEST (6 and up), written with a panache and flow lent by someone who reeeeeallly knows what it means to read-aloud.

Also of interest:
Fun links!
Newbery authors share their thoughts! (including Nancy Willard's 1982 sketch, pictured at the top of this post!)
Author Shannon Hale's Newbery phone call play-by-play!
Cool Mock Awards:
Allen County Library
BCCLS Mock Awards
Wake County Public Library
West Chester Library Association
And a very fabulous mock round-up at the Year of Reading blogspot!

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

ROSY COLE'S MEMOIR EXPLOSION (FICTION)

PICTURE BOOK
ROSY COLE'S MEMOIR EXPLOSION: A HEARTBREAKING STORY ABOUT LOSING FRIENDS, ANNOYING FAMILY AND RUINING ROMANCE by Sheila Greenwald (Farrar Straus Giroux)

At lunch, Hermoine Wong plunked down next to me. "How can you write a memoir?" she challenged me. "Nothing's happened to you yet."
"A memoir is about feelings and memories and families and friends," I informed her. And it just so happens that I have them."

One of the hardest parts of being a memoirist that I've found is that people grow and change over time, but when you trap someone is a book, they can't grow and change. They are frozen in whatever scene they have been drawn, as characters and not as people, and this is a hard fate for loved ones to bear (or even ones who are not so loved). This is the lesson learned from Rosy Cole's school of hard knocks. When given the school assignment to write about the most interesting person in her family, she is convinced to write about herself. Like any enthusiastic novice, she turns to a book for some help, specifically Write Your Life: A How-to Guide for Memoir. Through it, she learns to meditate, to usde her senses to inspire memory, and to use old photos to induce recall. She also learns what every successful memoir needs, among them: "talent, tears and turning points," "romantic relationships," and "confronting demons." SOme of these points are, indeed, a bit of a stretch for our heroine, and when she decides to host a memoir workshop for her classmates, tempers flare. Sort of a early-reader cousin to HARRIET THE SPY, Greenwald does a good job depicting the swinging moods, best laid plans and preteen girl provocations that are truly a plague. Best of all, there are some very interesting ideas to experiment with in a language arts classroom context. With all the journaling that goes on in schools and so precious little from which to draw, this title is an especially welcome addition.

Sheila Greenwald is a name to know; fans of Suzy Kline, Megan McDonald, Johanna Hurwitz (my son learned to read using Hurwutz's books, incidentally) and yes, Beverly Cleary, will enjoy her sparky realistic fiction. While I don't know if Rosy Cole trumps my Greenwald favorites, MARIAH DELANEY'S AUTHOR OF THE MONTH CLUB and the sadly out-of-printMARIAH DELANEY'S LENDING LIBRARY DISASTER. I always appreciate her characters' imagination and initiative, and the banter and situations are sure to be recognized by readers. Greenwald's own spot illustrations add to the "I can do it!" attitude of her girls. (8 and up)

Also of interest:
SING A SONG OF TUNA FISH is my memoir for children, about growing up in Chicago in the 1970's. One of the original titles we considered for this book was Let Me Tell You Something Stories, because each vignette starts out with "let me tell you something about..." (my family, school, my neighborhood). I wanted children to read this book and see that their own real lives are chock full of stories worth telling! I love teaching memoir writing to kids, and I hope that this book, along with my on-line teacher's guide (which includes more than twenty "let me tell you something about" story prompts) will be a helpful spirngboard into journaling. Also, check out these memoirs/autobiographical writings for young audiences by other children's authors and illustrators:

THE ABRACADABRA KID by Paul Fleischman
KNOTS IN MY YO-YO STRING by Jerry Spinelli
26 FAIRMONT AVENUE by Tomie DePaola
HOW ANGEL PETERSON GOT HIS NAME by Gary Paulsen
LOOKING BACK: A BOOK OF MEMORIES by Lois Lowry
BILL PEET: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY by Bill Peet
A DAY OF PLEASURE by Issac Bashevis Singer
CHEWING THE CUD by Dick King-Smith
DOWN A SUNNY DIRT ROAD by Stan and Jan Berenstain
FIVE PAGES A DAY by Peg Kehret
A GIRL FROM YAMHILL by Beverly Cleary
HOMEWICK: MY OWN STORY by Jean Fritz
CHILDTIMES by Eloise Greenfield

Awards to be announced
The big American Library Association awards will be announced tomorrow (1/22), including the Newbery for outstanding writing and the Caldecott for illustration. You can watch it on a live webcast, too! Go, Dianna Aston's AN EGG IS QUIET! Go, Elizabeth Winthrop's COUNTING ON GRACE! Go, everybody who published a book this year!

Sad news:
I regret to report the very tragic passing of talented author/illustrator Harry Horse. Sincere sympathy to his friends, fans and family.

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

DO RE MI:IF YOU CAN READ MUSIC, THANK GUIDO D'AREZZO (NONFICTION)

NONFICTION
DO RE MI:IF YOU CAN READ MUSIC, THANK GUIDO D'AREZZO by Susan Roth (Houghton Mifflin)

"A thousand years ago, if you heard a song and wanted to hear it again, you would have to remember it by heart. If you forgot the song, it could be lost forever. A thousand years ago, no one could write down even a single note of music. There were no notes. there were no staffs, no clefs, no sharps, no flats. there was no writen music at all." Luckily, a thousand years ago, there was also Guido d'Arezzo, a music-loving monk who was resilient in his efforts to create a musical language, despite resistance from choirmasters who felt his efforts might put a tidy end to their jobs. Through persistence and the support of a few good friends, Guido was able to reach his epiphany and give his gift to the world...a gift that touches us every day, every time we hear music on the radio, in an elevator, on a commercial, on a favorite CD. OF course, why wouldn't we want every child to know the biography of someone whose impact on the arts is so far-reaching? It's hard to find a picture book that can be read to a wide range of age levels, or one that so tidily integrates both the arts and character education, but this book accomplishes both. Susan Roth's highly textured handmade paper collage illustrations are interesting, if not altogether effective (one illustration of a line of angry monks in white hoods brought something else to mind altogether). Still, Roth is always one to take chances, with a unique creative energy that is sure to influence other artists, young and old. My favorite of her many projects remains LEON'S STORY, written in conjunction with Leon Walter Tillage, a school custodial engineer who shares his recollections of post-reconstruction and civil rights (wow, some truly amazing sections to read-aloud and a must-have for any month, but certainly black history month, for ages 9 and up). Susan Roth's titles are ones that I always find both useful and joyful, and this latest tribute continues to hit a high note. (6 and up)

Also of interest:
BROTHER JUNIPER by Diane Gibfried, illustrated by Meilo So (Clarion) A monk is so wildly generous, he manages to give away the shirt off of his back (literally), and the contents of an entire church. Though his brother friars are furious to return home to nothing but the church's foundation, it turns out that one good deed deserves another, and another, and yet another. A touching parable for any faith. (5 and up)

SEQUOYAH: THE CHEROKEE MAN WHO GAVE HIS PEOPLE WRITING by James Rumsford (Houghton Mifflin) The mighty trees that bear the name Sequoyah are tall and strong, but the Cherokee man, a disabled metalworker in the early 19th century, dreamed of standing with equal authority among his people. He tried to contribute to his tribe by developing a language so that their words of would not disappear with the coming of the white man. He drew hundreds of signs to create a language, but superstitious people were afraid of his symbols, and burned his cabin down with all his work inside. This only inspired Sequoyah to create a shortcut: an alphabet. Look inside this book to see the language that he created, as well as bold and beautiful woodcuts. The writing comes around in full circle like the seed to a tree to a seed again. Well-researched and compelling, this is an outstanding contribution to the genre of children's picture book biography, as well as an inspiring tribute to both the power of the word and the genius of a man. Read this along with Susan Roth's DO, RE, MI, and have children try to invent their own language to fill a void where communication is needed! (7 and up)

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

RICKSHAW GIRL (FICTION) and TEACHER MAIL!

I would like to share with you an abridged e-mail I received from a teacher-in-training who was reading my first book:

"It won't be long before I'm a teacher now, and thinking like that is scary. I mean, pre-service classes can only prepare you so much and then all of a sudden you've got to fly on your own. I was really scared at first because I thought, 'I'll never be that awesome.' And then I continued reading and I thought, 'YOU CAN DO THAT KIND OF CREATIVE STUFF IN THE CLASSROOM!?!?!?' And the more and more I read, the more excited I got for my future. I have big plans. I always have, but after all of the paperwork and guidelines I have to follow in my classes, I forget that teachers can be imaginative and fun. Sometimes when I think about my first year teaching all I see are those signs you see when a place in a book is haunted: 'Turn back,' and 'I wouldn't go on if I were you.' I hear horror stories from seasoned teachers about how hard it is your first year and how especially [in city schools] you're in constant fear of losing your job. I worry about all this, but then when I'm in a classroom teaching, there is magic that happens. A connection with a student that melts my worries away. Someone tells me they wish I didn't have to leave. And then I'm determined again. If the students have confidence in me I should have confidence in myself."

I think this a very important and provocative letter, not only for the high note of hope, but that such a note would rise and sing out amidst the cacophony of her candor. The author of this letter is far from alone; I frequently receive e-mails andsnail mail from teachers, pre-service teachers in particular, that speak of being discouraged before they even get out of the gate, of a lack of confidence...and also, as this educator describes, the renewed hope and vision that is granted through the experience of reading, garnered certainly not only through my books, but through many books.

I am moved by this letter to offer a reminder to educators that a knowledge of children's literature, in combination with a mastery of classroom management techniques, are two of your most powerful tools. While many programs offer a lot of support for classroom management, few preparatory programs offer real training in children's literature, or offer one class as an elective. Such introductions are rarely sufficient. Entering a classroom without a firm groundwork of children's literature is like expecting a mechanic to work without a wrench, or a surgeon to work without a scalpel.

The more that you know about what books are available, the more you are able to individualize instruction, reaching and teaching the children who need it the most. The more you are able to utlilize best practices, like read-aloud throughout the grade levels. The more you are able to integrate subjects, showing children the interconnectedness of all subjects and cultivating an attitude that school is relevant to the real world. And speaking of, you are able to cultivate interest, empathy, enthusiasm; elements of the kind of world we all want to live in. A knowledge of children's literature expands the map of where you can go with your class, far beyond the boundaries of tests, prescriptions and mandates, while still allowing you the confidence that your students will have the critical thinking skills to achieve at any task. In the midst of it all, a knowledge of children's literature prevents the notorious burn-out; your next lesson is as fresh as the next great book, and goodness knows we have no shortage of that! You need the best books, and the children deserve them, so if this knowledge is not handed to you, you are lucky...there are more places than ever to find what you need independently (the blogosphere being among them). "You can do that kind of creative stuff in the classroom?" Yes, you can!

And with that in mind, I offer up a particularly wonderful new Book-of-the-Day, exactly the kind of gem that shines in a classroom:

FICTION
RICKSHAW GIRL by Mitali Perkins, illustrated by Jamie Hogan (Charlesbridge)
As I read this book over winter break, the shocking thought came over me like a slow-rising sun: "I can't wait to get back to school and read this aloud!" I actually went to the calendar and counted the days before I could introduce children 8 and up to the brave and resourceful (if sometimes impulsive) Naima. By painting delicate and award-winning alpana patterns on her Bangladeshi home for special celebrations, this little girl has brought pride to her family, but what she really longs to do is help her father earn money. Each passing day her friend Saleem passes in his rickshaw, and each passing day also distances her from him, Naima's role as a young woman in her village becoming more pronounced and more frustrating. When she tries to maneuver her father's beautiful, newly-painted rickshaw, it appears she has brought rack and ruin to her family, possibly even causing her mother to sell a cherished bangle that has been passed down through generations. Dressed as a boy, she tries to create a new solution that will prevent further hardship, and in doing so is surprised to discover that new solutions are emerging, and from her own gender.

This book is beautifully and universally written, playing skillfully on all children's desires to be helpful to their families, and their natural propencities to rally against the unjust. Though there is some regional vocabulary, the writing is so sparkling clear that it can be comprehended in context, though a partially illustrated glossary is also included. Terse pacingmakes for a perfectly cliffhanging read-aloud, and descriptive prowess brings every scene to life. Gracefully drawn charcoal spot illustrations that suggest the paper's texture are a perfect accent to the story. Use this realistic tale to springboard into discussions of whether boys and girls can really do the same things, and also as a way to introduce the very modern and important idea of microlending programs (a new economic model that earned Mohammed Yunus a recent Nobel Peace Prize), through which children will be delighted to discover they can make a huge difference in the world, even with a few coins. My own favorite microlending program is through Women for Women International, though many programs are available.

On a personal note:
I have lovely news to share: my newest novel, VIVE LA PARIS, was the recipient of the silver medal of the Sydney Taylor Book Award, a commendation recognizing the best in Jewish children's literature, given by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL). Medals are awarded annually for outstanding books that authentically portray the Jewish experience. The award was established in 1968, and was named in memory of Sydney Taylor, author of the classic ALL OF A KIND FAMILY series. The Sydney Taylor Book Award recognizes the best in Judaic children's literature each year, and I am especially pleased to be runner-up to a brilliant new author, friend and fellow Chicagoan, Brenda Ferber, for her book JULIA'S KITCHEN, an astounding story of healing after loss. Visit the AJL website to view all of the medalists and honor books, and the great company I am keeping!

I am especially proud to receive an award carrying the name of the great Sydney Taylor, who wrote such brilliant and authentic realistic fiction. Most of all, I am so proud of the Association of Jewish Libraries who gave this award to my book. Though my protagonist, Paris McCray, is helped and changed by her Jewish piano teacher, Paris is African-American. In my mind, Paris is on a quest to learn how to be her brother's keeper, but it has been brought to my attention that by doing so, she is practicing the principles of tikkun olam, or trying to heal the world. I am proud of the AJL for celebrating my book even though its central character is not conventionally Jewish, and without any particular regard to my personal race or ethnic background. In time for the birthday of Martin Luther King, who preached that we should judge one another by the content of our character, I was overjoyed to have my book judged by its contents and its characters. THANK YOU, AJL!

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

THE YEAR OF THE DOG (FICTION)

PICTURE BOOK
THE YEAR OF THE DOG by Grace Lin (Little, Brown)
"My favorite chapter books when I was younger were by Carolyn Haywood--B IS FOR BETSY...they had families and ate dinner and waited for the bus. They were normal families without unicorns or fairy princesses, but the stories were magical to me. When I read those books, it was as if I was wrapped in a warm hug. I saw all the things that I loved and lived--my neighborhood, my friends, and my school. The only thing I didn't see was me." So writes Grace Lin, who deftly fills the need from her own childhood with these delicious navigations through daily life via a character that is her namesake. In her lucky birth year, Grace dreams of discovering what she is good at, while watching her friends realize their abilities through science fairs, school plays and costume contests. Not until Grace tries her hand at creating a book does she discover what her special gift might be.

Tales that highlight Taiwanese culture run parallel to the familiar American situations: a Red Egg party in honor of the birth of a new cousin, eating yucky health food at a friend's house (a situation children of all cultures will sympathize with), and Grace's mother's Chinese-influenced versions of American holidays is worth the price of the book alone (I think she makes great improvements on Thanksgiving dinner). Perhaps the most precious parts of all, though, are the interspersed vignettes shared by Grace's mother, which belie the author's storytelling ability. A particularly moving section about Grace's encounters with prejudice within her own culture is also a memorable point worthy of dicussion. Why this book is so explicity called "a novel" on the cover is mystifying to me, as it so clearly leans towards memoir, with the author even being so self-referential as to have an illustration of a science fair exhibit labeled "by Grace Lin." From a teaching perspective, this was wildly annoying, but in the big scheme of a book that successfully accomplishes what the author set out to do (which heaven knows doesn't happen all the time in publishing), it might be overlooked. This title has a great charisma and honesty, and does indeed celebrate the everyday. Unpretentious drawings throughout by the author are both charming and dear, and give the young reader a more intimate connection with the writing. A graceful leap into fiction from the author's previous picture books, third grade girls everywhere and fans of Marissa Moss's AMELIA series will find a likeable friend in Grace, and this offering will be a special boon to any child seeking cultural identity and cultural affirmation. (7 and up)

Also of interest:
This book has many references to Chinese New Year in it, which means it would probably be very handy to also have a copy of the absolutely brilliant and unique author Demi's HAPPY NEW YEAR!/KUNG-H'SAI FA T'SAI! which is both the most informative and beautiful book I know on the holiday, showing what symbols mean, what food represents, and all the traditional activities and customs. Did you know Demi has been known to paint with a mouse's whisker?

Also very handy is MOONBEAMS, DUMPLINGS AND DRAGON BOATS: A TREASURY OF CHINESE HOLIDAY TALES by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz and the Children's Museum, Boston, illustrated by Meilo So (Gulliver). Every teacher I showed this book to gave a gleeful shout upon receiving it in their hands, as if welcoming someone they hoped would stop by. I gave the shout myself when I saw this title, a much-needed resource and long-awaited addition to any multicultural collection. This book spills over with crafts, recipes, stories and fascinating general information pertaining to Chinese New Year and the lantern Festival, Qing Ming and the Cold Foods Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Intruiged? You should be, this stuff is more delicious than a Five-Treasure Moon Cake (yes, a recipe for that is included, too!). A guide to Chinese pronunciation, internet resources and a compass to the Chinese Zodiac are a few of the handy extras that you'll find. Some of Meilo So's illustrations are so brightly colored and energetic, I wonder if she didn't dip her paintbrush into a firecracker to make these pictures! Phenomenally festive and just plain fun, both children and adults will love poring over it, and every teacher absolutely needs it! Non-fiction fit for a dragon! (6 and up) In

HAVE A GOOD DAY CAFÉ by Frances and Ginger Park, illustrated by Katherine Potter (Lee & Low) is a terrific story that, like YEAR OF THE DOG, touches on the struggles of being new in the 'hood. Mike makes a clever culinary choice in order to solve the problem of his parent's failing food cart and his grandmother's homesickness. This picture book featuring new arrivals to America from Korea has a lot of meat to it! (6 and up)

On a personal note:
Ever notice how a whole classroom has a kind of personality, a whole-group dynamic with certain traits that vary from year to year? Or, how some superstitious teachers suggest that a great class will be followed by a tough one? I was very big into studying the Chinese zodiac for a while there, and so I created classroom horoscopes based on the Chinese zodiac to determine best teaching practices, based the dominant year of birth of the children. Check it out...was I on the mark for your classroom? For entertainment purposes only...no, I did not actually use this as the basis of my pedagogy, and sorry, you'll still have to do your lesson plans.

Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.

365 PENGUINS (PICTURE BOOK)

PICTURE BOOK
365 PENGUINS by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet (Abrams)

A mysterious package arrives on New Year's Day, containing one penguin. The next day, a second penguin is delivered. The third day brings yet another black-and-white buddy, but this trend can't continue, can it? With the accumulation of Antarctic animals comes a series of problems to be solved, some mathematical (three digit addition, the budgeting of fish and the determination of proper amounts...if each penguin eats 2.5 pounds of fish a day, how many pounds will we need after the first three months of the year?) some logistical (how shall the penguins be organized? How shall they be cared for in the summer months? What to do about that penguin smell?) and some emotional (how does one share a shower with hundreds of penguins? "Once you reach the point of no return, one penguin more or more penguin less each day doesn't make much of a difference anymore. You live penguin. You think penguin. You dream penguin. You become penguin.") By the time we are truly and wholly feeling this family's penguin pain, though, the sender is revealed, along with his surprising and provocative plan to help wildlife through global warming. All's well, it seems, until the next New Year's Day when another package is left at the fanily doorstep. What could be inside this time?

This year is off on the right foot, or flipper, as the case may be, with this absolutely majestic and marvelous oversized delight. A snazzy palette of black, white, blue and orange makes this book extra cool, and overall is visually daring and outrageously fun; children will love looking for "Chilly Willy" with his icy-blue feet in the midst of the penguin posse pictures. This book has irresistable commercial appeal (kudos to the publisher on some outstanding packaging), but it is also an educator's dream, with huge illustrations to hold up and amaze a whole class, and plenty of opportunities for problem solving and discussion on many levels. Not since Bernard Waber's Lyle the Crocodile showed up splish-splashing in the bathtub at the THE HOUSE ON EAST 88TH STREET has a unplanned and unlikely pet been more welcomed in a family...or on the shelves of children's literature. You'll enjoy this title every single one of the 365 days of 2007! (All ages)

Also of interest:

The eyepopping nonfiction tour de force, ZOO OLOGY (Roaring Brook) is another remarkable offering by artist Joelle Jolivet. At 18 inches tall, this oversized illustrated field guide is big enough to fit an entire menagerie that would have been impressed even Noah. Handsome woodcut specimens are fixed and posed upon each double-page spread, and classified in unexpected, thoughtful ways: in the trees, underground, on the seabed, at night, spots and stripes, black and white, on and on! A little chameleon is hiding in each of the pictures, to help children who are overwhelmed by the grandeur of the book to focus in the face of such variety. This super safari in a book will be cherished, astounding generations of children with the variety of all of the creatures that walk the earth. A must for future biologists and environmentalists, and present animal lovers. (All ages)

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