CHILDREN'S SUMMER PICKS

In ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET (Houghton Mifflin, $16), a baby elephant gets lost in a thunderstorm, and finds a home with a pack of water buffalo. Anushka Ravishankar’s rhyming verses convey the joys of the new friends frolicking on land and water. They are complemented by Christiane Pieper’s spare, linoleum-print-like illustrations in black and periwinkle on a cream background.
Ages 2-5

Alice wants to sleep IN A BLUE ROOM (Harcourt, $16) surrounded by blue: blue tea, blue sheets, blue flowers, blue moon outside. Her mom manages to bring in things that aren’t blue and make them feel blue with a magic touch. Then the lights go off and only the blue moon shines in. Jim Averbeck captures the whimsy of a young imagination in this lovely going-to-bed book. Ages 2-5

Can’t get your little monster to go to sleep? Rock him gently and croon “HUSH, LITTLE DRAGON (Abrams, $15.95) don’t make a sound, Mama’s gonna bring you a princess she found.” Paired with Kelly Murphy’s illustration of a distressed princess being flown into the arms of a baby dragon, this clever lullaby should calm your little one right down. Boni Ashburn’s lyrics work perfectly with the tune of the traditional song, but magicians, knights, kings, and dragons are delightfully different from the subjects of the original. Ages 2-5

LITTLE HOOT (Chronicle, $12.99) has a problem. He wants to go to bed early, but he is an owl, and owls come out at night. Poor Little Hoot has to watch his woodland friends get tucked into bed while his father insists, “I don’t give a hoot what time your friends go to bed. In this family, we go to bed late.” When will he ever get to sleep? Writer and illustrator team Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace’s charming new book is full of puns, jokes, and clever twists. Ages 3-6

 

LITTLE BALLET STAR (Dial, $16.99) is a great story for all aspiring ballerinas. Just imagine a trip to see the ballet where Aunt Gina the ballerina takes you backstage for warm-up, make-up, and wardrobe! Author Adele Geras adds the perfect piéce de rèsistance when the birthday girl ends up on stage. It’s a gala event for the primarily pink. Ages 3-7

 

In MINJI’S SALON (Kane/Miller, $15.95), fashion is at its height! A young girl styles her dog’s fur on one page, while her mother gets her hair done at a real salon on the facing page. Mom looks glamorous, the dog gets covered in paint, the house looks like a tornado hit… Eun-hee Choung’s book is imaginative and funny. Translated from the Korean. Ages 3-6

 

Grace has her heart set on being PRINCESS GRACE (Dial, $16.99) in the town parade. When her teacher and class offer to help select the perfect princess couture, Grace anticipates pink, lace, and frills. But she learns that princesses around the world are a diverse lot. Don't throw away those tiaras, but make room for skins, silk, scrolls, compasses, helmets, and riding gear. After introducing princess warriors, princess spies, and a variety of royal roles and robes, author Mary Hoffman (Amazing Grace) gives a brief history of princesses around the globe. Ages 3-8

When Uncle Bobby announces his engagement, everyone is happy and excited. Everyone except Chloe. If Uncle Bobby starts a new family, will this be the end of the love and attention she has treasured from her very special uncle? After Chloe gets to know Bobby’s partner, Jamie, better during several enjoyable outings with the couple, on the day of UNCLE BOBBY’S WEDDING (Putnam, $15.99), by Sarah Brannen, she is happy and excited. Now she’ll have two special uncles. Ages 4-8

When young Uri Shulevitz fled Warsaw, Poland, with his family, he lived in poverty in Turkestan. In HOW I LEARNED GEOGRAPHY (Farrar Straus & Giroux, $16.95) he tells the story of his bitter disappointment when, one night, his father brought home even less food than usual because he’d purchased a map. Although Uri went to bed hungry, the large map filled his imagination with names, places, climates, adventures, and even art. He began to draw parts of the map over and over. The map that denied him a full stomach one night fed his soul for many nights. Ages 4-8

Violet, a mechanical genius, loves to play with monkey wrenches and needle-nose pliers, repairing and building contraptions in her father’s junkyard. When she perfects her flying machine, she becomes VIOLET THE PILOT (Dial, $16.99) and sets out to win the annual air show. But, alas, she gets sidetracked by being a good Samaritan. A note to readers who want to build their own flying machine: author and illustrator Steve Breen has included blueprints for The Hornet on the endpapers. Ages 4-8

Nature camp combined with a week at the beach—no wonder A COUPLE OF BOYS HAVE THE BEST WEEK EVER (Harcourt, $16). Best friends James and Eamon have a different agenda from that of Bill and Pam, Eamon’s grandparents, and the camp directors. Marla Frazee cracks up the boys along with the readers by contrasting the text of adult expectations with illustrations of the boys’ reality. Practicing quiet meditation, for instance, is illustrated by the two boys with demonic expressions on their faces playing video games. And what about two boys at nature camp who never go outside? Don’t miss the endpapers for the perfect camp experiences. Ages 4-8

Theodore Roosevelt is asking WHAT TO DO ABOUT ALICE? (Scholastic, $16.99). Alice Lee Roosevelt wants to go places, meet people, and do things. She calls it “eating up the world.” Her famous father calls it “running riot.” Follow Alice as she romps through the White House, across America, and around the world. Barbara Kerley’s text and Edwin Fotheringham’s illustrations are an entertaining introduction to Alice, who was too wild for her time. Ages 4-8

Pura Belpre was the first Latina librarian in New York City. She brought Spanish-language books to the public library and made it a welcoming place for Latino immigrants. Lucía González tells Belpre’s story in Spanish and in English in THE STORYTELLER’S CANDLE/LA VELITA DE LOS CUENTOS (Children’s Book Press, $16.95). This important piece of literary history is beautifully illustrated by Lulu Delacre. Ages 5-10

Jon J. Muth amazed us with his stunning illustrations and pearls of wisdom in Zen Shorts. In ZEN TIES (Scholastic, $17.99), Stillwater the giant panda returns, complete with his red tie and yoga poses, and this time his nephew Koo is visiting. Koo wears his own red bow tie, speaks only in haiku, and forms close friendships with the children Addy, Michael, and Karl. They all learn a valuable lesson from time spent with the cross Miss Whitaker. The resplendent images make this book a thing of beauty. Ages 4 and up

Author Alice McGill’s great-grandmama’s mama saw new slaves from Africa fly to freedom WAY UP AND OVER EVERYTHING (Houghton Mifflin, $16). According to the story, the five new African slaves had barely begun to work in the cotton fields when they all stepped up into “thin air” with the master at their heels. Simple and delicate illustrations by Jude Daly accompany this strong willed, yet fantastical story of the people that could fly and of those who passed that dream along. Ages 5-8

Ali lives in present-day Baghdad and loves writing in Arabic calligraphy, filling the pages with SILENT MUSIC (Roaring Brook, $17.95). When the bombs fall, he hides under the covers, practicing his calligraphy, making beautiful things with his pen. This incredibly illustrated picture book shows how beautiful writing helps a young Iraqi survive the horror that surrounds him. James Rumsford’s simple text and magnificent illustrations are a tribute to Arabic calligraphy and Iraqi history. Ages 5-8

A hatchling baby goose imprints on a young boy. The goose then thinks the boy is his mother and does everything the boy does. Next, a hatching duckling imprints on the goose, so the duck mimics the goose mimicking the boy. Everything goes along swimmingly until GOOSE AND DUCK (HarperCollins, $16.99) imprint on a policeman and are arrested. Nature is a funny thing, but in Jean Craighead George’s capable hands, all creatures eventually figure out who, or what, they are. Ages 4-8

What do Madagascar, Costa Rica, and the Pacific Northwest have in common? They all have RAIN FORESTS (Holiday House, $15.95). Author Nancy Smiler Levinson and illustrator Diane Dawson Hearn’s colorful and informative easy reader explores the habitat of some of Earth’s most fascinating plants and animals. Every page is brimming with information; plants and animals are beautifully illustrated and clearly labeled. Choose your destination from the map: would you like to visit a tropical or a temperate rain forest? Do you prefer South America, Africa, or Pacific islands? It’s hard to decide. Why not visit them all? Ages 5-10

He was the greatest knight in King Arthur’s court, and if you follow THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LANCELOT THE GREAT (Houghton Mifflin, $15), you’ll also discover that Lance had a great sense of humor. As Gerald Morris (The Squire’s Tales) tells the story, Sir Lancelot can run off a challenging knight by pinging him with acorns and singing off-key! As long as his armor stays very shiny, Lancelot is up for any knightly quests, damsel rescues, or other duties, all comically recorded in Aaron Renier’s illustrations. Camelot sure was funny. Ages 6-10

Donavan, a fourth grader, is having a lot of difficulty with math. When his uncle returns from war in a wheelchair, the year becomes one of DONAVAN’S DOUBLE TROUBLE (Amistad, $15.99). His uncle used to help him in school, play basketball, and be an all-around support. Can Donovan and his friends learn to relax and understand that “Uncle Vic” and their feelings for him are the same as before his injury? In this engaging book, Monalisa Degross shows that difficult things can get easier. Ages 7-10

 

FICTION

 

In this wickedly clever satire, four children, THE WILLOUGHBYS (Houghton Mifflin, $16), who want to be orphans, manage to survive despite their neglectful parents. Gaining moral support from classic children’s books, they hope for their deserved happy ending. Their parents are plotting a different fate, one inspired by Hansel and Gretel. Fans of Lemony Snicket will chuckle knowingly, perhaps surprised by Lois Lowry’s rapier sense of humor, but not by her excellent writing. Ages 8-12

Ted and Kat watch their cousin Salim board the sealed car of the huge Ferris wheel called the London Eye. But precisely one half-hour later, Salim does not disembark. Parents, police, and even teenage Kat frantically try to solve THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY (David Fickling, $15.99), by Siobhan Dowd. But they are no match for Ted, who uses his detail-driven Asperger’s syndrome mind to bravely figure out what happened to Salim that windy London morning. Ages 8-12

Maggie Fortini has baseball in her blood. She follows her favorite players meticulously, lives and dies with each Dodgers game, and learns the art of KEEPING SCORE (Clarion, $16) from Jim, her father’s co-worker. But when President Truman sends Americans, including Jim, to fight in Korea, Maggie struggles to understand the bleak realities of war. For Maggie, following the Korean War becomes linked with fruitlessly cheering the Dodgers towards the World Series. Linda Sue Park captures the helplessness of the early 1950s both for friends of soldiers and for Dodgers fans. Ages 9-13

There is something about listening to Tupac’s music. On the surface the lyrics are violent and ugly, but the more closely you listen, you find a beauty which is deeply introspective. It is this Tupac, the Tupac who wrote songs about poverty, about social injustice, about inner city crime, whom Jacqueline Woodson uses for the backdrop for her book AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER (Putnam, $15.99). At its heart, this is a story of the friendship among three young girls, two best friends and a foster child who joins their lives for awhile. But it is also a look at the social conditions which draw them together and eventually push them apart. Ages 10-14

Amanda is so mixed up. At home, her mother has asked her father to leave. At school, she is writing a fictional Civil War diary of a girl whose brothers are fighting on opposite sides. In each situation, who’s right and who’s wrong? And how does the one African American boy in the class feel about all this discussion of slavery? Since she can’t talk about things at home, through her TOTALLY MADE-UP CIVIL WAR DIARY OF AMANDA MACLEISH (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16), by Claudia Mills, Amanda tries to work out the complexities of domestic and national divisions. Ages 9-12

Conor leads a charmed life. His father is a nobleman in the Irish aristocracy. His best friend and romantic interest, Princess Isabella, is destined to become Queen. Conor spends his time inventing a flying machine with Victor Vigny, his personal tutor and closest companion. But when the evil Bonvilain stages a coup d’état, he frames Conor, who is imprisoned as a traitor. In prison, Conor invents a new persona and begins to take risks in order to become an AIRMAN (Hyperion, $17.99). Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer has captured our imaginations again. Ages 10-13

Last year, Valkyrie became the protégé of the detective Skulduggery Pleasant—a sharp-dressing, smooth-talking skeleton. Now they are back, battling monsters, learning magic, saving the world, and PLAYING WITH FIRE (HarperCollins, $16.99). With his unique wit, author Derek Landy blends fantasy, adventure, and laugh-out-loud humor in this fantastic sequel. Ages 11 -14

In PRIMAVERA (Little, Brown, $16.99), her captivating novel of the Italian Renaissance, Mary Beaufrand imaginatively draws the reader into the vicious intrigues between the Medici and the Pazzi, the two most powerful families of Renaissance Florence. Flora, the younger and “least-loved” daughter of the Pazzi, finds herself in the middle of her father’s deadly conspiracy to neutralize the power of his Florentine rivals. When this fails, Flora and the young Pazzi guard, Emilio, must save themselves and what remains of the shattered Pazzi family from a bloody, Medici retribution.
Ages 11-15

 

POETRY

Joey is not happy about getting a step-brother out of his mom’s new marriage. Through a series of funny and serious poems combined, Nikki Grimes’s OH BROTHER! (Greenwillow, $16.99) tells the story of two boys brought together by their parents’ interracial marriage. Maybe, after all, it could actually turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to either one of them! Ages 5-10

Alan Katz and Ed Koren collaborate on a goofy collection of poems called OOPS! (McElderry, $17.99). Included are poems like A Tale Well Toad, Tea-Wrecks and Everybody Comma Down! This book is a treasure trove for those who love wordplay. Topped off with Koren’s illustrations, each poem feels like a little cartoon to figure out. Ages 6-9

 

How tall is the tallest roller coaster? What’s the record for skipping stones? Where are THE WORLD’S GREATEST: POEMS (Chronicle, $16.99)? They’re in this clever collection. Each poem begins with facts about the record-breaking subject, whether it’s the most spinning plates or the longest time a human remained standing. J. Patrick Lewis’s poems specialize in wordplay; Keith Graves’s slightly absurd illustrations adorn the poems perfectly. Ages 5-10

RUNEMARKS (Knopf, $18.99), by Joanne Harris, begins centuries after the great battle of Ragnarok, in which the majority of Norse gods allegedly perished in thunder and flame. In the medieval world that has emerged from the ruins, it takes one with a special power to understand the true fate of the gods. Born with a “runemark,” Maddy is labeled a witch by the villagers. But mysterious One-Eye (think Odin) recognizes her power and grudgingly offers to train her in the arts of pre-Ragnarok magic. Soon Maddy is traveling the Nine Worlds with Loki, the Trickster, battling goblins, and befriending other, more wholesome creatures. Ages 12-16

While traveling to Florida, Ashley Rhodes-Courter’s mother and stepfather were arrested and imprisoned for dealing drugs. Three-and-a-half-year-old Ashley and her 18-month-old brother were removed from their custody and thrown into foster care. In this memoir, Ashley describes living in many different homes, some so horrific that at present some of the caregivers are facing criminal charges. Finally, as a teenager, when asked if she would like to be adopted by the Courter family, Ashley is able to utter THREE LITTLE WORDS (Atheneum, $17.99): “I guess so,” and begin to trust and find stability in her life. Ages 14 and up.

SCIENCE

 

The PALE MALE (Knopf, $16.99) drama that took place high on a fancy apartment house window-ledge in New York City gets the treatment it deserves from Janet Schulman in this third book about the hawks' plight. Readers will cheer as people from all over New York picket the building when the red-tailed hawks' nest is destroyed, and then when a compromise is finally reached so the birds can return without their waste dropping on the sidewalk. Meilo So's elegant watercolor illustrations give the reader an overview of the Central Park location both from the hawk-eye perspective looking down and up from the ground. Ages 4-8

 

Learn interesting facts, such as that a toad is a kind of frog, and that frogs breathe more than half of their oxygen through their damp skin. Nature photographer and author Nic Bishop includes a wealth of information, along with captivating photos, in his new book about FROGS (Scholastic, $17.99). In his pictures, a frog’s internal organs are visible through its transparent skin. The strawberry dart poison frog is as strikingly beautiful as it is deadly. And a young red-eyed tree frog is all eyes and awkward with his post-tadpole body. Very cool! Ages 4-8

 

Cathryn and John Sill continue their amazing About … series with ABOUT HABITATS: WETLANDS (Peachtree $16.95). In simple, lively, and informative prose, Cathryn Sill introduces young readers to the world of wetlands and the natural wonders within and surrounding them. Both plant and animal life are addressed, and the author stresses their continued importance to the environment. The beautiful color plates by John Sill are works of art in their own right, revealing the surprising diversity of wetland topography throughout the world. Ages 5-8

Nature holds many exciting mysteries. THE PUZZLE OF THE PLATYPUS (Boyds Mills, $17.95) is just one. How do dolphins use their sonar? Do animals other than humans make and use tools? And what exactly is a platypus? In this fascinating book by Jack Myers, former senior science editor at Highlights for Children, scientists probe eleven animal mysteries. Ages 8-12

 

 

COOKING

 

Sam Stern’s first cookbook for teenagers, Cooking up a Storm, was a huge success. Whether this was due to the quality and ease of the recipes or because Sam looks and acts like a young Jamie Oliver, is open for speculation. In Sam’s new cookbook, REAL FOOD, REAL FAST (Candlewick, $16.99), the recipes are conveniently categorized according to the amount of time each takes to prepare, which allows for a quick smoothie in the morning, a yummy 10-minute pizza-style omelette for lunch, or killer kebabs for a 30-minute dinner preparation. The layout and photographs are as appealing as the food. Ages 11-18

BIOGRAPHY

 

In PIANO STARTS HERE: The Young Art Tatum (Schwartz & Wade, $16.99), Robert Andrew Parker tells the story of one of the virtuosos of 20th-century jazz. Parker shows how Tatum’s love of the piano, and lots and lots of practice, allowed this talented youngster who was born nearly blind to become a professional musician. Parker’s loose and graceful pen-and-watercolor illustrations make this a lovely book to share with someone while listening to some of Art Tatum’s timeless music. Ages 6-10

 

Laura Bridgman could not see or hear, and she could barely taste or smell, but SHE TOUCHED THE WORLD (Clarion, $18). Bridgman preceded the better known Helen Keller by about fifty years, but her story is equally remarkable. In 1832, when she was barely two years old, Laura Bridgman lost most of her senses to scarlet fever. When she was eight, Laura moved to Boston to attend the Perkins School for the Blind, where she learned to read, write, and fingerspell. In fact, Bridgman taught Helen Keller’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, to fingerspell. Authors Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander have written this fascinating biography of a courageous woman. Ages 8-12

 

OTHER NON-FICTION

Buy a ticket, grab a hotdog, and settle into your seat for WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF THE NEGRO BASEBALL LEAGUE (Jump at the Sun, $18.99). The richly detailed text tells the story of the Negro Leagues in an authentic voice, accompanied by sumptuous oil paintings that capture both the excitement of the game and the injustice of segregation. Award-winning author and illustrator Kadir Nelson hits a home run. Ages 10 through adult.

 

Teenagers will find a book that speaks to them in THE ULTIMATE TEEN BOOK GUIDE (Walker, hardcover $26.95, paperback $15.95). Editors Daniel Hahn and Leonie Flynn have compiled information on over 700 books with reviews and information on genres, including horror, fantasy, and romance. Reviewers range from famous authors such as Anthony Horowitz to teachers, librarians, and teens themselves. The book also includes fun features such as suggestions for what to read as follow-ups, “best books” lists in categories such as “Banned Books” and “Bad Breakups,” and polls that inform us of teens’ favorite authors, books, and characters they’d like to date. Ages 12 through adult.

 

THE MCELDERRY BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS (McElderry, $21.99), retold by Eric Kimmel, is a wonderful companion to the more traditional D’Aulaires. Many of the principal Greek myths are presented here, often with a more poignant, though less complex, narrative than in D’Aulaires. Kimmel seeks to reveal how these myths are still vital to 21st century-readers, and in doing so often humanizes the gods as well as slightly reinterpreting the myths. What truly sets this collection apart are the superb, incredibly detailed and captivating illustrations by Pep Monteserrat, which faithfully portray the vital humanity of Kimmel’s narratives. Ages 7-12