PICTURE BOOK
THE NEW GIRL by Jacqui Roberts, illustrated by Matt Phelan (Atheneum)
When the teacher suggests the class make Shakeeta feel at home, observant Mia can’t help wondering if Shakeeta could possibly feel that way being so far from her pet iguana (whatever that is…Mia speculates its some kind of dinosaur), where boys tease and call names (Shakeeta threatens to punch the perpetrator in the head, which only makes it harder for Mia to approach her) and where kids leave other kids out of soccer games. In a quiet moment, shy Mia gets up the gumption to bring Shakeeta into the classroom family fold. This realistic picture book naturally depicts a lively multicultural school environment, and the light sketchy line nicely matches the tenuousness of the friendship unfolding. A sensitive story sans saccharine. (6 and up)
Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.
Why should teachers have all the fun? Invite other members of the school community into the classroom for a read-aloud as a special guest, and as a way for children to get to know all the special people who make the school function. Such as...
The lunch lady...SCHOOL LUNCH by True Kelley (Holiday House)When the health-conscious school lunch lady Harriet takes a much-needed vacation, its mighty hard to fill her shoes, or her kitchen. Told mostly in letters between the suffering school and Harriet swinging in her tropical hammock, we see the fry cook who douses everything in salt and grease, the French chef whose flambé sets off fire alarms, a summer camp counselor who serves up a few too many s'mores, a witch with culinary mischief brewing, and finally, the principal must resort to Chinese take-out. Wish you were here, Harriet! Accented with explosive cartoon illustrations, this-laugh-out-loud story is a delicious tribute to one of school's unsung heros. (6 and up)
The custodian...THE FEET IN THE GYM by Teri Daniels, illustrated by Travis FosterThis book celebrates the great underdog of the school, the custodian! Handy Bob takes great pride in his job, wiping and washing and craping and scrubbing until the school shines, but begins to feel a little "walked on" as he wrangles with the footprints of everyone from the shuffling kindergarteners to a troupe of ballet-dancing kids to a soccer team to (gasp!) the art class to...my goodness...the marching band! How will poor Bob ever get the floor clean? The story is hilarious and a perfect read aloud, with an underlying message of persistence and pride in a job well done. Though sometimes hard to find, it's worth the hunt. The book production is outstanding, with super-glossy parts to the pages that actually makes the footprints look wet! I can't wait to have kids make their own paint footprints to lead them into their new classroom...or should I write new students' names on the feet and use them for a bulletin board featuring Handy Bob? Run, don't walk to get this book... for laughs and creative extensions, other read-alouds might very well "pail" in comparison! (5 and up)
The administration...A FINE, FINE SCHOOL by Sharon Creech, illustrated by Harry Bliss (HarperCollins)A well-meaning principal is so enamored with the climate at his school that he decides to hold school on Saturdays. And then Sundays. And then holidays. Meanwhile, Tillie's little brother was not learning how to skip, and Tillie's dog was not learning how to sit, and Tillie herself was not learning how to climb the tree in her backyard. So when the principal considers holding school all summer, it's time to set the record straight. Clever illustrations (children brushing their teeth at the lockers, a boy carrying a volume titled This Book Is Way Too Hard for You, and children passing each other boxes of tissue to cry into as the principal makes his announcements) bring home the point that maybe it is possible too much of a good thing, and that there is all kinds of learning, some of which doesn't take place even in a fine, fine school. Another fine, fine children's book for this time of year! Also of interest to adminstration on a storytelling spree might be THE FROG PRINCIPAL by Stephanie Calmerson, illustrated by Denise Brunkus (Scholastic) (6 and up), THE PRINCIPAL'S NEW CLOTHES also by Stephanie Calmerson and illustrated by Denise Brunkus (Scholastic) (6 and up), and MR. TANEN'S TIES by MaryAnn Cocca-Leffler (Whitman) (6 and up). Come out of the office and set the tone for a community of readers!And don't forget to check out Mike Thaler's classic "Black Lagoon" picture book series, covering everyone from the school bus driver to the school nurse, and recognizes and reduces any trepidation children may have about meeting these new and important folks.Any other suggestions for read-alouds that are comfortable and fun for folks who work outside of the classroom in the school? Please share them in the "comments" section!On a personal note: The PlanetEsme Bookroom!Many of you have asked about upcoming events at The PlanetEsme Bookroom, the fabulous literary living room on Chicago's north side where children's literature is celebrated! I am currently working on giving the Bookroom page a facelift to include the history of the space, the marvelous and extraordinary guests that have passed through and the people who contributed to make it so unique, and how to get information on how you can start your own literary salon! Thanks for your patience!
The truth of the matter is, at the start of August I have taken a full-time position as a school librarian (at a school that will at this time remain unnamed to protect privacy), and have been busy setting it up one shelf at a time. Meanwhile, the Bookroom programming is going to be a bit more...how you say...."once in a while," as I get the plate-spinning act honed. We are keeping events minimized to absolutely the most fabulous. Which is why we are planning on having illustrator HARRY BLISS (of bestselling DIARY OF A WORM fame), appearing at the Bookroom on October 18th, 6:30 p.m., courtesy of our wonderful independent bookselling supporter, The Bookstall. Yes, you can come. Yes, you can bring a friend. Yes, it's free if you buy a book at the event, which will be easy, because Bliss will bewitch us with his collaboration with Allison McGhee, A VERY BRAVE WITCH (Simon & Schuster). Details this fall, but mark your calendars today! Also, I want to have an ooo-la-la release party this fall to celebrate VIVE LA PARIS, but haven't quite worked out the details. Your bookbash brainstorming is welcome! 
Peek-a-boo at the Bookroom!
As we celebrate the theme of school stories this week, let's not forget these oldies-but-goodies, most of which have the added perk of being available in paperback!
IN ENGLISH, OF COURSE by Josephine Nobisso, illustrated by Dasha Ziborova (Gingerbread House)The members of Josephine's classroom all seem to come from somewhere else, and are called upon in turn to talk about where their families are from. But when it's Josephine's turn, she is not sure she has enough English under her belt to explain that her parents are architectural engineers from Napoli, Italy. Her limited language leads her into uncharted farm territory, where with the help of her teacher she is able to share an extravagant reminiscence about a cow, told with a lot of body language. This hilarious and honest book explores both the insides and the outsides of an extremely intelligent child who is just gathering the tools she needs to make herself understood. The splashy collage illustrations appropriately reflect the wild amounts of information that are being sorted through, along with the style and spirit of the story's heroine. ESL students and teachers will cheer here, but any child will empathize with Josephine's earnest attempt to share the best of herself with her class. "Sometimes native-speaking people underestimate the talents, dignity and wit of newcomers to a country," the author muses in her postscript. All of these attributes come through loud and clear in one of the more endearing characters and accurate classroom narratives to appear in children's literature in a long time. This book has won so many accolades, its getting hard to see the cover! (6 and up)
PUNCTUATION TAKES A VACATION by Robin Pulver, illustrated by Lynne Rowe Reed (Holiday House)Poor Mr. Wright plods along, trying to teach about punctuation marks, but when the frustrated fellow suggests "let's give punctuation a vacation," the underappreciated notations take him up on it, hopping a plane and leaving the class in a lurch. It turns out that writing is so hard to understand without those funny dots and dashes! When postcards arrive with crytic signatures, can Mr. Wright's students (and yours) figure out who each one is from? Leave it to clever Robin Pulver to take something as pedestrian as the period at the end of a sentence and infuse it with her signature zing. This attractive, funny book earns exclamation points all the way, and is a teacher's dream come true. Overheads of the illustrations will bring grammar lessons to life (unscramble the badly behaved punctuation in Mr. Rongo's room!), and children will love preparing their own punctuation postcards for a trip abroad to the bulletin board! Language arts has never been so lively. If you're going to talk about what everyone did over summer vacation, this might be a fun place to start. (7 and up)
COYOTE SCHOOL NEWS by Joan Sandin (Henry Holt)Marvelous storytelling timeline following twelve students who attend the Coyote School. The tales of Monchi and his family living between Tucson and the Mexican border are told in fast-moving anecdotal style, describing exciting events like the Fiesta de Los Vaqueros (the big annual rodeo) and breaking open the Christmas pinata, as well as more everyday events like a visit from the nurse to the school and an attempt at a baseball game…who let the cattle out! Each vignette is perfectly accented by a page from "The Coyote School News," inspired by actual newsletters written by Arizona ranch country schools between 1932 and 1943. Besides this unique treatment, lovely watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations, both big and small, help bring the school year to life. By the last day, readers will have a very clear picture of a school that they will surely wish they could attend. And qué bueno, there's no way your own estudiantes will not be inspired to create their own classroom newsletter after reading this book! (7 and up)
LITTLE BROWN BEAR WON'T GO TO SCHOOL! by Jane Dyer (Little, Brown)Every child has those days where they simply don't want to go to school, and Little Brown Bear is no exception. "I want a job," he complains, and sneaks off in puruit of one instead of going to class. It seems he doesn't have the aptitude to work at at the restaurant, the contrsuction site, the knitting or the barber shop. Is there any place where his skills match the job he has to do? This gentle watercolor illustrations feature a menagerie of animal characters that makes the story extra fun. The story plays on the fantasy of so many children to work as the grown-ups do, while celebrating the special work that children do every day. Don't be absent for this one! (5 and up)
LEON AND THE SPITTING IMAGE by Allen Kurzweil, illustrated by Bret Bertholf (Greenwillow)Leon's lack of fine motor skills is landing him in hot water with his new teacher, the odd Miss Hagmeyer, a Medieval throwback who has an almost deranged obsession with sewing. In order to pass, the children must create stuffed "animiles" (stitch count not to exceed four s.p.i., or stitches per inch, mind you), culminating in a master piece at the end of the year. The story takes quite a fantastic turn midsection, though, when Leon makes a doll of his teacher and discovers that he can control her every move by using it. The book brims with mystery (is Miss Hagmeyer's hair really held on with velcro? What are all of those funny eyeballs she keeps locked away? And what on earth is The Hag doing with all those stuffed animals?) and ends on a sharp note of revenge, both of which are extremely appealing to the dark side of middle-graders. The story's great strength, however, resides in Hagmeyer's willingness to redirect her curriculum based on the best of what she has to share. The fact that this one teacher's passion, for all the controversy she stirs up, is able to transform her students, makes this book an inspiration for all classroom teachers to stand and deliver their lessons through the filter of the best in themselves. A highly unusual classroom read. Plus, I just loved staring at those endpapers covered in eyeballs…and I could swear they were staring back. (10 and up) If you like this one, check out the science-fair themed sequel, LEON AND THE CHAMPION CHIP.
And since I promise a new book-a-day, check out funnyman Dan Gutman's THE HOMEWORK MACHINE (Simon & Schuster). Told from a variety of POV's, including police interviews (!!!), this is a story of a wish come true, and as is the case with many wishes that come true, it has gone awry in ways that were hard to predict. A young computer mastermind tries to lose his "nerd" status by demonstrating his marvelous machine, and its use and consequences reveal the sometimes serious backstories of four students (such as the need for one boy to connect with his father on duty in Iraq, and a girl's coming to terms with deciding who her friends are or following the crowd). It's like a modern-day Danny Dunn mixed with the devices of a good old-fashioned problem-novel. While some may find the situations and resolutions a little pat, this straightforward storytelling that will make this book a success and a delight to discuss with reluctant readers. (9 and up)On a personal note:
Thanks to Junko Yokota of National Louis University for recommending to me the most amazing website, Delicious-Monster.com, which features shareware that allows you automate your personal collection of books! That means, teachers, you can scan in your classroom collection, beep-beep-beep, and look things up and check things out, just like a real library, only interfacing with snazzy Mac graphics! Good gravy, I am absolutely over the moon with this program, it's even better than a homework machine in my book! I can't wait to zap everything in sight.
Check in tomorrow, I'll have news about the PlanetEsme Bookroom! Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.
PICTURE BOOK
A VERY FULL MORNING by Eva Montanari (Houghton Mifflin)
The first day of school is so exciting, Little Tooth can hardly get to sleep! The big day comes. What to wear? What to eat for breakfast? She passes a path of stones, a yard full of bookbags, and walks through a corridor of doors to a room full of desks...which one is hers? A surprise ending creates an empathetic bond between student and teacher that is sure to start the school year out right. Angular, stylized illustrationswith distorted, exaggerated perspectives add to the dreamy, maze-like feeling of being the new person in a new place. (4 and up)
Also of interest:MR. OUCHY'S FIRST DAYby B.G. Hennessy, illustrated by Paul Meisel (Putnam)
Mr. Ouchy is a bundle of nerves before school starts, but once he gets rolling, all is well. The male prespective is refreshing, the list of what kids want to learn is inspired, and realistic dialogue gives this story extra snap! Told in short sections that feel extra grown-up in a picture book format, the lively banter will beguile fans of Suzy Kline's HORRIBLE HARRY series (one of my favorite voices for telling a classroom story). My favorite part is when Mr. Ouchy talks to his mommy at the end of the day to let her know that he got a haircut and wore his blue shirt, and, yes, "my class is the best!" (5 and up)
Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.
Okay, I am going to go out on a limb and hope you will forgive this shameless moment of self-promotion, but I have to share my joy that SING A SONG OF TUNA FISH (9 and up) has been released in paperback in time for the start of the new school year. This book actually has nothing to do with tuna fish; it is a memoir about my growing up in Chicago during the 1970's, focusing on my fifth grade year. In it, I describe things like egging a car with my mother (understandably, she is not too happy about that), stealing a matzoh from under the chair of a hundred-year-old rabbi, attending a school where I could choose disco dancing over math, getting butt-switching lessons from a fifth grade diva, losing my brother under about ten feet of snow after a blizzard, and throwing my grandmother the surprise party to end all surprise parties. It is graced with spot illustrations by the talented LeYuen Pham, who, as always, did her homework to recreate the mood that will have Gen-X'ers reveling in the familiar.
So many children I worked with liked to write stories about haunted houses, car chases, zombies and aliens... I am especially excited because I wrote this book with the hope that it could show children that their own real lives are worth writing about. Each chapter can serve as a springboard into journaling activities for kids. I have an on-line chapter-by-chapter teacher's guide, which also includes a list of other memoirs by children's authors and illustrators. SING A SONG OF TUNA FISH is also available on audiobook, which I had the pleasure of narrating myself for Listening Library. Though this is one of my favorite books I have written, and certainly the most personal, it was a bit of a sleeper...I am glad that it can wake up to a new life in paperback, a format that will reach more kids and the people who love them.
Meanwhile, I am chewing my cuticle to rags, as responses and reviews loom for VIVE LA PARIS, the soon-to-be released companion to SAHARA SPECIAL (amazon.com reviews are welcome, people, it's good practice!). VIVE LA PARIS is a "companion novel," not a "sequel," because I was careful to try to write a book that would stand on it's own (though the slow-burning Miss Pointy is still teaching, and our favorite "bad boy" Darrell makes a return...I love that kid). This is the story of Sahara's classmate, Paris, who is taking piano lessons with an elderly woman with a secret...a secret that might help Paris deal with the bullies in her life, and in the life of her gentle brother.
As a teacher, reading books like NUMBER THE STARS by Lois Lowry and KING MATT THE FIRST by Janusz Korczak to inner-city African-American kids, I dreamed of someday writing something that would connect children of different cultures, and a different era, to the experiences of WWII in a way that would really speak to THEM, and NOW. That seed was watered by comments made by Sharon Flake in reference to her book BANG!, about how important it is to tell the story of people on the news, even after the television goes off. I wanted children not only to learn history, not only to hear about what's happened in the world, but to use it so it doesn't have to be repeated, which is what Paris tries to do (even though its harder than she imagined). I also wanted to use writing as a tool to help fortify children as they confront the onslaught of news of war and terror. I hope VIVE LA PARIS connects young readers to history in a way that is recognizable and relevant to their own lives, and gives them some hope and power to do better.
Well. We'll see. Anyhoo, stay tuned this week, as I may have a few more advance copies available for librarians and book clubs! Also, I'll have back-to-school themed books to review, and to get things rolling, let's start with THE WHEELS ON THE SCHOOL BUS by Mary-Alice Moor, illustrated by Laura Huliska Beith (HarperCollins). The librarian on the bus says read, read, read! the custodian on the bus says, mop, mop, mop! The coach, the teachers, the lunch lady, and yes, some children chime in, introducing storytime listeners to the whole cast of their merry school day. A rollicking find, and a fresh take on an old favorite. (4 and up)
Also of interest:
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS by Paul O. Zelinsky (Dutton). If you don't have it already, you need this rock-and-roll pop-up version of the original song. Pre-dating the moveable masterpieces of Robert Sabuda, this book is the wheel deal. (4 and up)
PICTURE BOOK
ALL FOR PIE, PIE FOR ALL by David Martin, illustrated by Valeri Gorbachev (Candlewick)
When Grandma Cat bakes an apple pie, it's not only the cat family that gets a piece of the action! This simple and charming reverse-Little-Red-Hen shows how much work can be done and how many can share in the fun when everyone pitches in and works together. I am always looking for good apple-themed stories to tie into my Johnny Appleseed Anniversarycelebration in September, and this one is definitely going on the menu. (3 and up)
A few posts back, we celebrated the work of Ard Hoyt, but ALL FOR PIE reminded me that Valerie Gorbachev is also a quiet riot, deserving of a moment in the spotlight. Gorbachev's style is a hybrid of Richard Scarry and Arnold Lobel; check out his newest, HERON & TURTLE (4 and up), gentle, friendly vignettes featuring enthusiastic animal neighbors and see if you don't agree! Gorbachev has quipped, "the basic thing for an illustrator is to create a cozy, truthful world for the characters." Don't we wish we could live in his books?
Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.
With school almost back in session, let's get one more big trip around the world in, while we have the chance! These titles will also painlessly get those neurons firing in time for September...
IT'S BACK TO SCHOOL WE GO! by Ellen Jackson, illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis (Millbrook) Kids can get into the back-to-school-groove by reading the conversational portrayals of the return ritual from the POV of eleven kids in the same boat. The map on the endpapers helps to track the trips! 
MY LIBRARIAN IS A CAMEL: HOW BOOKS ARE BROUGHT TO CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD by Margriet Ruurs (Boyds Mill Press) Finland! Indonesia! Kenya! Mongolia! Azerbaijan! How do young readers in remote areas get their goodies? An exploration of thirteen countries introduces us to beasts, bookmobiles and even boats that really know how to deliver to their patrons! Lots of text is motivating for hard-core bibliophiles, and for the rest, a multitude of cool, exotic photographs really show us how we all have so much in common through our love of reading. Each spread also includes a sideline featuring a map, flag, and brief encyclopedia-like description of the locale. What an unusual, inspiring book! (8 and up)
CELEBRATE! CONNECTIONS AMONG CULTURES by Jan Reynolds (Lee & Low) What do people around the world have in common when they celebrate? Do they decorate themselves? Do they use fire? Do they dance? Featuring vibrant, people-cenetered photographs in the style of George Ancona, this choice is perfect for your youngest anthropologist. (7 and up)
Also pretty great is Disney Press's OUR WORLD (6 and up) which is, unsurprisingly, relentless in its product placement through little iconic cartoons. I am generally unkind to anything featuring a licensed television/movie character. However, to be fair, this book is a stand-out because it also has an amazing amount of information, well-organized with large print, a clear index, and lots of photographs, including great big ones of kids from every continent. Written in very kid-friendly language, it's handy for reports, and is an extraordinary value for a hardcover. But if you find the likes of Lilo and Stitch too intrusive, check out OUR WORLD: A COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY GUIDE by Millie Miller (Scholastic)(7 and up), is also rich in information, including a lot of history, with hand-illustrated pages and maps, almanac-like info in handy sidebars on the bottom of every spread and a handy guide to world flags.
CAN YOU SAY PEACE? by Karen Katz (Henry Holt)(3 and up) has succulent, gumdrop-colored illustrations with plenty to point out to preschoolers on every page, and a reminder that September 21st is an International Day of Peace. Oh, heavens to betsy, if dear dear Fred Rogers were still alive, I bet he would have loved this book, it is such a warm reminder of what all children have in common, and what they have to teach us. CAN YOU GREET THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD by Lezlie Evans, illustrated with sweet, unpretentious cartoons by Denis Roche (Houghton Mifflin) (4 and up) is beautifully laid out, with lists of polite remarks that would make Emily Post very happy, and pronunciation help on every page. Both books offer multilingual opportunities for children to extend a friendly hand to one another. Also of interest: One of the very best ways for children to get to learn about the world is to have a penpal, someone far away who wants to exhange letters. Educators, I highly recommend International Youth Services as a provider (you have to order a relatively large number of addresses). Children can learn skills like geography and letter-writing, as well as character traits such as tolerance and empathy. These long-distance relationships are so interesting, and can last...I was given a penpal from India through IYS over twenty years ago, and she is now the godparent of my son and one of my dearest friends! (Hi, Cleta, love you!!!) Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.
FICTION
THE PALACE OF LAUGHTER by Jon Berkeley, illustrated by Brandon Dorman (HarperCollins)
The cover of this book is as alluring as the entrance to a carnival fun house, and the similarity does not end there. Miles, an orphaned boy, is told by a tiger that he can "smell the circus in him," and when he follows that calling, he finds himself in a position to rescue a creature known as a song angel being held against her will. So suspenseful that you want to get off the ride and never want it to end at the same time, florid descriptions and a dreamlike plot carry the reader along page after page, with a few frightening bits mixed in. I personally find the idea of scary clowns in a book for children distateful, frankly, given the sad and horrifying grown-up history of crime which I won't get into here; but aside from that, the language is lovely, the writing is original, and if your 10-and up reader can stomach the likes of Neil Gaiman's CORALINE or the tribulations and droll, dark humor in the works of Lemony Snicket, ahhh well, they'll be fine (or as fine as they'll ever be). This first in a series is a thrill ride, and likely to find legions of fans. (10 and up)
On a personal noteThis book is part of the "Julie Andrews collection," yes, the lovely and ridiculously multi-talented Mary-Poppins-Eliza-Doolittle-Victor-Victoria Julie Andrews, an imprint of HarperCollins publishing. In the 1970's, Julie Andrews published under her pen/married name, Julie Edwards, penning classics such as the read-aloud fantasy delight THE LAST OF THE REALLY GREAT WHANGDOODLES ,and my favorite, MANDY, in which a girl builds a secret house with a mosaic room of seashells, good gravy, what little girl wouldn't love it? Julie Andrews at that time also chose admirably not to rely on star power garnered from another field, but to allow her stories to stand on their own merits. And so, Julie Andrews, multi-talented Mary-Poppins-Eliza-Doolittle-Victor-Victoria Julie Andrews of whom I am very fond and who gave performances that made me shed tears of joy and who has written fine books to boot, may I please gently point out to you that when you are heading an imprint, you should not quote yourself on the back cover, praising the book which you have had a hand in publishing? My editor, too, heaven bless her, has many nice things to say about the books we have published together, and her enthusiasm does make my heart skip a beat. All the same, there is a general understanding that to the unbiased public, such praise is of the caliber of your mother telling you that you are the prettiest girl in the world. Chances are, if you actually are that beautiful, you don't need mother to point it out; the world will recieve you as such. Be brave in your imprint, Ms. Andrews! Keep putting out good stuff like this Berkeley fellow has done, and readers will say the things you'd like to have said. Links are provided for informational use. Don't forget to support your local bookseller.
PICTURE BOOK
