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September is here, school is starting up again and it’s time to take a look at some great new books for all ages. One is a continuation of sorts of a modern-day classic; one is written by a well-known singer; and one humorously tells of cross-cultural angst. For ages 4-7 Papa, Do You Love Me? Written by Barbara M. Joosse; illustrated by Barbara Lavallee (Chronicle Books, hardcover, 30 pages, $15.95) A Masai boy and his father are keeping watch over their cattle when the boy asks: “Papa, do you love me?” This beautiful book, lavishly illustrated with watercolor paintings by Barbara Lavallee, captures the universal love between a father and child. Written and illustrated by the same team that produced the best-seller “Mama, Do You Love Me?” 14 years ago, this book follows the boy and father around the Serengeti Plain as the boy continues to question: How much do you love me? What if I was afraid? The father patiently replies to each question, reassuring him of his love. Included is a glossary of terms about the Masai and their culture. Squashed in the Middle Written by Elizabeth Winthrop; illustrated by Pat Cummings (Henry Holt and Co., hardcover, 40 pages, $16.95) Poor Daisy. Her know-it-all older sister and her annoying little brother take up all her parents’ time and attention. Everyone in the family talks to Daisy and about Daisy, but nobody listens to her when she talks. One day, her friend Rosa asks Daisy to spend the night. But nobody listens when Daisy tells them. What does it take to get her family to hear her? Elizabeth Winthop’s charming story will hit very close to home for any child who feels she is not being listened to, whether she is in the middle or not. The illustrations are crisp, bright and colorful. Angel Coming Written by Heather Henson; illustrated by Susan Gaber (Simon & Schuster, hardcover, 40 pages, $15.95) In the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, children were told that babies are delivered by angels on horseback, with the little ones tucked safely inside the saddlebags. Maybe the children were told that because of the Frontier Nursing Service, created in 1925 to help the desperately poor women of the region deliver their babies. The nurses would arrive on horseback, the only way to get through the rough country, and help both mother and child survive in a region with a high infant mortality rate. This wistfully rendered picture book tells of one young girl who is awaiting the angel, as her mother is awaiting the birth of her baby. We see how the neighbor women come to make a quilt for the new child and how everyone dances when the father breaks out his banjo and starts playing. The tender tale creates a unique portrait of a time and place in America. For ages 6 and older Lotsa de Casha Written by Madonna; illustrated by Rui Paes (Callaway, hardcover, 46 pages, $19.95) This is the fifth children’s book written by one Madonna Ritchie, who previously made a name for herself with all those musical hits. It’s a simple tale, and one often told, about a man with all the wealth in the world who is still unhappy, and who learns that happiness comes only through helping others and by sharing what you have. What really sets the book apart are the fabulous illustrations by Rui Paes, a Portuguese artist whose work includes murals and designs for the theater. They make Madonna’s rather mundane story very special indeed. The Secret of the King Written by Rachel Ann Nunes; illustrated by Jay Bryant Ward (Shadow Mountain, hardcover, 32 pages, $17.95) In a small medieval village, Javan and Lia long to be more than they are. He is a young blacksmith’s apprentice, and she works as a baker. But both want to be knights in the king’s army. They practice their fighting skills by night, and constantly talk of the honor it would be to serve the king. But unexpectedly, both get the chance to serve the king in ways neither of them could have ever predicted and prove themselves to be real heroes. Jay Bryant Ward’s paintings are spectacular, lifelike and detailed. Reaching for the Moon Written by Buzz Aldrin; illustrated by Wendell Minor (HarperCollins, 40 pages, hardcover, $15.99) Buzz Aldrin may have been predestined for his role aboard Apollo 11 his mother’s maiden name was Moon. Aldrin writes charmingly about his childhood, his interests, his competitiveness and his early love for flying and how all of this led to his acceptance in the astronaut program on the second try. He details the hard work along the way graduating with flying colors from West Point, his training as a pilot, his combat missions in Korea. He describes what it was like to soar in the spaceship above the Earth, and what it felt like to take some of the first steps on the moon. The paintings accompanying the text are beautiful and highly detailed. Saving the Liberty Bell Written by Megan McDonald; illustrated by Marsha Gray Carrington (Atheneum, hardcover, 30 pages, $16.95) John Jacob Mickley was 11 when one day his father told him a big secret: He had been chosen to transport the Great Bell from atop the Pennsylvania State House and hide it from the British, who were ransacking the countryside for any metal they could lay their hands on to supply raw material needed for the Revolution. John Jacob and his father moved the bell into their wagon, and covered it with straw and a ladies hoop skirt to hide it. But could they get the bell from Philadelphia to a small church in Allenstown without getting caught by the Redcoats? This true story is an interesting bit of history about the famed Liberty Bell; the illustrations are colorful and slightly comical. For ages 10-14 Project Mulberry Written by Linda Sue Park (Clarion Books, 232 pages, paperback, $15) Julia is a Korean-American girl who has an uneasy relationship with her culture. She hates kimchee, and generally rejects most things to do with being Korean. But she and her friend Patrick are yearning to win a blue ribbon at the state fair, and for their project they decide to something decidedly Korean - raise silk worms, which Julia’s mom did as a child. Julia worries that it’s just not “American” enough. Author Linda Sue Park, a Newbery Medalist for a previous novel, “A Single Shard,” has written a funny, lively book about the struggle for acceptance of themselves that many young people have. For added insight, Park has written playful vignettes of dialogue between herself and her main character, which lets readers see some of the writer’s thought processes. SPECIAL BOOK REVIEW Inch and Miles: The Journey to Success Written by John Wooden, with Steve Jamison and Peanut Louie Harper; illustrated by Susan Cornelison (Perfection Learning, hardcover, 40 pages, 15.95) Legendary basketball coach John Wooden knows a thing or two about children. He has a son and daughter, seven grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He also knows something about success. He won 10 national championships at UCLA on the way to a Hall of Fame career. The unprecedented success Wooden enjoyed on the court was due in part to a set of deeply held beliefs on how to achieve personal greatness. He calls it the Pyramid of Success, and the 15 steps to maximize potential are widely embraced today by athletes, coaches, entrepreneurs and business executives, alike. But it was one of Wooden’s grandchildren, a kindergarten teacher, who asked her grandfather to write a book for children about the road to success. The result was “Inch and Miles, The Journey to Success,” an illustrated tale about a worm and a mouse who set out on an assignment to discover the blocks that make up the Pyramid of Success. The irresistible pair learn how to try 100% to do their personal best. From Axelrod the Ant who teaches the two the value of hard work to Albert the Alligator who stresses confidence, Inch and Miles meet 14 characters representing values important to success. When they finish, the pair understand the true meaning of success as defined by their teacher, Mr. Wooden. Illustrated beautifully by Susan Cornelison and co-written by Steve Jamison and Peanut Louie Harper, “Inch and Miles” delivers a gentle message about the personal greatness that lives within all of us. “My granddaughter asked me to simplify the Pyramid to help young children understand the value of hard work, patience and giving your best,” Wooden said in an interview. “I’m very pleased if we are helping youngsters.” By Steve Churm Southern California sports icon John Wooden will be the inaugural American Heritage National Honoree at the 10th annual Ethics in America Awards on Sept. 20 at The Grove of Anaheim. For more information about the event, “A Celebration of Ethical Excellence,” honoring Wooden, please call 949.770.7602 or visit online, www.passkeys.org. Tickets and sponsorships are still available. |
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