Dotty, by Erica Perl - celebrate friendship, real and imaginary (ages 3 - 7)

I clearly remember one of my daughters talking about her imaginary friend, Juan. She was very matter of fact about Juan, and very certain about it. She was about 2 or 3, in her first year of preschool when friendships were just developing.

Do you remember that stage, when children start playing with their friends, not just side by side? But fast forward to kindergarten - how do all these imaginary friends make that transition? How can we make space for our children's imagination as they enter the big world of elementary school? I loved the book, Dotty, for all the ways it explores those issues - in a warm, lovely way.

Dotty
by Erica Perl
illustrations by Julia Denos
NY: Abrams Books, 2010
available on Amazon and your local library

When Ida goes to a new school, Dotty comes with her. She would never think of leaving her behind. Dotty is Ida's very large, red spotted imaginary friend.

"At morning meeting Ms. Raymond counted noses. Ten, eleven twelve. Ida frowned. She patted Dotty reassuringly. Thirteen, she silently added. "

Ida's classroom is actually quite full of imaginary friends of all sizes and shapes. But soon, other kids start leaving their imaginary friends at home and Ida is teased for bringing Dotty with her. After a fight with another student, Ida learns that even grown-ups sometimes bring their special imaginary friends along, and that her teacher has a secret to share as well.
Ida's teacher, Ms. Raymond, is just the teacher you'd love to have. She's stylish, understanding and caring. The moment when she reveals her own imaginary friend was a wonderful moment. I loved learning at The Happy Nappy Bookseller's blog that Erica Perl and Julia Denos both wanted to portray a diverse classroom. Ms. Raymond, an African American teacher, is a great part of that.

Best of all, this book celebrates children's imagination and their friendships in all flavors. Ida is a wonderful character, one you'll enjoy sharing with your children. It reminds me of one of my favorite friendship books: The Apple Doll, by Elisa Kleven.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publisher. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion will go to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you). Thank you for your support!

Other Half of My Heart, by Sundee Frazier (ages 9 - 12)

When do you talk with your children openly about race? Do you talk about noticing the color of someone's skin? I was fascinated last spring listening to Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock, talk to a group of parents about scientific research and implications for raising children. One of the topics he covered was how parents are doing a grave disservice to their children by trying to be "color neutral" and avoid discussions of race. As he writes in a column in Newsweek, "Ignoring the color of skin, yet dutifully pointing out the color of every inanimate object and animal, only sends a message to children that talking skin color is taboo." Children notice colors all around them, and they certainly notice the color of skin. We must help them understand why different people have different color skin; talk about it in a calm way, encouraging their mindfulness without preaching to them.

This got me to thinking - how is race portrayed in the children's books we read? Do any of the books I love help children talk about race, understand race and the impact skin color may have? A book I recently read, The Other Half of My Heart by Sundee Frazier, and really enjoyed does this wonderfully. It provides food for thought, talks openly about race and raises questions - in a funny and heartfelt way.

The Other Half of My Heart
by Sundee Frazier
NY: Delacorte / Random House, 2010
ages 9 - 12
available on Amazon and at your local library

Minni and Keira are 11 year-old twins, but they are fraternal twins who look nothing alike. Minni looks like her father with light skin and red hair, and Keira looks more like her African American mother, with dark skin and kinky dark hair. Minni and Keira are best friends and each other’s strongest supporter, but the differences they experience as biracial siblings test their relationship the summer they visit their grandmother in North Carolina.

Grandmother Johnson flies Minni and Keira out to participate in the Miss Black Pearl Preteen pageant. Keira is thrilled to be able to shine in the spotlight, but Minni is shy like her mother and dreads the attention. Even more so, Minni dreads the inevitable – people asking why she is competing in a pageant for African Americans when she looks white. Is she really black? Is who you are determined by what’s inside or how people see you? Has she ever really stood up for Keira when people judge her by the color of her skin? Has she been treated differently than Keira at home and not realized it?

Sundee Frazier won the 2008 John Steptoe New Talent Award (presented by the American Library Association to an African American writer who has published three or fewer books) for Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It (2007). I haven't read this, but it looks like a fun novel that also raises questions about race in a way that kids can relate to.

In The Other Half of My Heart, Frazier raises questions about race, identity and inner strength, in a way that helps children think about these issues without giving them the answers. She bases much of this on her own experiences as a mixed race person, growing up as the daughter of an African American father and a white mother.

I found the character of Minni to be more fully developed, since the narrator shares her thoughts and feelings. We really can get inside the turmoil that Minni is going through. So at times the novel seems a bit unbalanced, and I found myself wanting to know more about Keira's inner thoughts and emotions. However, I wonder if this would have been difficult to share both sister's perspectives. In any case, tweens will definitely enjoy the humor and insights that Frazier brings to this story.

The review copy came from the Association of Children's Librarians. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion will go to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Friends - making them and keeping them, two books for girls (ages 6 - 12)

Kids deal with friendship issues all the time - how to make new friends, how to deal with an on-again, off-again friend, what to do when another kid hurts you or teases you. Two books from American Girl are great resources to for kids and parents to talk about ways to handle friendship issues. Best of all, they are easy to dip into and easy to read, personable and filled with examples from real kids. They're very kid-friendly, appealing and draw you right in.

Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them
by Patti Kelly Criswellillustrated by Stacy Paterson
WI: American Girl, 2006
ages 6 - 10available on Amazon or at your local library

This fun book is filled with short tidbits, quizzes, posters and true stories about how girls make new friends and have fun with the friends they already have. It's full of bright colors, modern multicultural illustrations, and fun posters. Its messages are upbeat but honest and helpful. It is not a heavy-handed book, but a great place for starting conversations.

"Having friends who understand and appreciate you for who you are is what it's all about - finding friends who are really right for you." (p. 3)

What an excellent message, just the one I want to help my daughters learn and think about. And this is a format they'll enjoy - much better than hearing Mom ask questions or tell them what to do!

Stand Up For Yourself & Your Friends:
Dealing with bullies and bossiness, and finding a better way
by Patti Kelly Criswell
illustrated by Angela Martini
WI: American Girl, 2009
ages 8 - 12
available on Amazon and at your local library

This book uses many similar features as Friends - quizzes, true stories, short pieces of advice - but it delves into more difficult issues. Many girls need help dealing with bullies and bossiness throughout their elementary school years. They need to deal with friends who talk behind their backs, or classmates who tease them. Maybe they have a friend who's warm and kind one day, and the next turns a cold shoulder. These aren't easy waters to navigate alone. As Criswell writes in the introduction,

"There's no one right way to handle bullying. That's why this book gives you lots of tips to try, such as clever comebacks. ways to ignore someone who bullies, and ways to get help from an adult you trust. You'll find advice from girls who have been there, and you'll learn how to stand up for other people, too, when they need it most. We can all do our part to make the world a kinder, safer place." (p. 3)

My daughter is quite soft-spoken at school (not at home!) and she was dealing with a difficult situation at school one year. This book helped her understand the hurtful words another girl was saying and name the behavior; it also helped her find some words and actions she could take to stop the bullying. Best of all, it helped her see that she didn't just need to absorb these hurtful words - she could and should stand up for herself.

Patti Criswell, the author of both books, is a Clinical Social Worker, speaker and author living near Kalamazoo, MI. She has been working with girls and their families for almost 20 years to help girls gain the skills they need to grow into strong and powerful women. She is a passionate advocate for those being bullied. Learn more at her website.

For more nonfiction books your kids will enjoy, head over toNonfiction Monday. This week it's being hosted by Rasco from RIF, written by Carol Rasco, the CEO of Reading Is Fundemental, America’s oldest and largest nonprofit children’s and family literacy organization.

The review books came from our personal collection. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion will go to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Hunter's Best Friend at School, by Laura Malone Elliott (ages 4 - 7)

I watch my children and the kids at school play, and I'm continually struck by how important their friendships are. In many ways, it's like children's friendships form the multitude of designs on the quilt of their lives - giving color, excitement, variety to their lives. Perhaps you could continue the metaphor and see children's imaginations forming the quilting patterns swirling through the top of the quilt, and their family lives forming the stuffing and the quilt backing, what helps give children's lives full substance and inner strength to last. Throughout the fall, I will try to highlight friendship stories that children enjoy and that speak to them in different ways. This will give me a theme to pull some older books, and not just new ones coming to bookstores. I'd like to start with a favorite of mine: Hunter's Best Friend at School.

Hunter's Best Friend at School
by Laura Malone Elliott
illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
NY: HarperCollins, 2002
ages 4 - 7
available on Amazon and at your local library

Hunter and Stripe are best buddies, two little raccoons in preschool or kindergarten. They sing together, play together and copy each other's silly tricks. But one day, Stripe comes to school "in a mischief-making mood" and disrupts class. Hunter isn't sure what he should do. Should he follow Stripes lead, or should he pay attention in class? Hunter decides to copy Stripe's bad behavior and ends up cutting up a paper frog he's made. Hunter returns home sad and confused, but his mom helps him sort it out. First, she gently asks questions. And then she gives some gentle advice:

"Being a best friend doesn't mean always following along. Sometimes being a best friend means you have to help your friend be his best self."

Elliott handles this difficult issue with sensitivity and integrity, helping children think about a fairly sophisticated concept. These dilemmas are really difficult, and there are no quick and easy answers. Seeing Hunter struggle and work out the right thing to do helps kids mull over their own situations in a safe way. Although this book has a clear message, the funny illustrations and the realistic struggle makes it appealing to kids. It's definitely one they can connect to, either having been through this or seen other kids do so.

The review copy came from our home library, upon the suggestion of one of my mentors, the wonderful Diane Frankenstein. Check out her book Reading Together for more great suggestions. If you make a purchase on Amazon using the links on this site, a small portion will go to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support!

A children's dictionary - an essential school supply

I was surprised when our school supplies lists came out in August that a dictionary wasn't listed as an essential school supply. Starting in 3rd or 4th grade, it's crucial to have a good children's dictionary easily accessible at home. Dictionaries are intimidating to start with (so many words!), so it's important to have one that matches your child's reading level. Our dictionaries are now out of date, and so I'm excited to get the Scholastic Children's Dictionary for grades 3 - 6.

Scholastic Children's Dictionary
NY: Scholastic, 2010
ages 8 - 12
available on Amazon and at your local bookstore

This brand-new edition of the Scholastic Children's Dictionary is a solid, easy to use children's dictionary. The design makes it easy to find words and understand their meanings and uses. It has a good range of words for children in upper elementary grades - words such as abhor, abide and abrasive. Each entry includes part of speech, brief definition, sample sentence, and a pronunciation guide.

I was especially impressed with the language used in the definitions when I compared this dictionary to other student dictionaries we have. It uses simple but clear and precise language to define words children will encounter in their reading and schoolwork. Here's an example:

Scholastic Children's Dictionary:
abhor: "to hate someone or something. Alix abhors romantic movies."

Concise Oxford Dictionary:
abhor: "to regard with disgust or hatred"

The Scholastic Children's Dictionary is precise and yet easy for children to understand. One of my biggest frustrations is when dictionaries define words in a complicated way, confusing students who are trying to do the right thing when they don't understand a word.

This edition has been updated for 2010, including hundreds of new entries and definitions, color pictures and illustrations, and interesting word histories. It also includes a thesaurus, maps, state and country facts, and information on the US presidents in the back matter.

I have not found a new dictionary for middle school students that I really like. Do you have one that you use and think works well?

For more nonfiction book reviews, head over to Miss Rumphius Effect for Nonfiction Monday, a round-up of nonfiction books across the Kidlitosphere.

If you make a purchase using one of the Amazon links on this site, a small percentage will go to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you). Thanks for your support!

No Such Thing As Dragons, by Philip Reeve (ages 8 - 11)

Do you believe in dragons? No, I didn't think so. Well, the famous dragon hunter, Brock, doesn't either. But he convinces simple rural village folk that they need to hire him to rid their mountain villages of these frightening beasts. If your children like fantasy stories with adventure and danger, come take a look at Philip Reeve's newest tale. Children are going to love it.

No Such Thing As Dragons
written and illustrated by Philip Reeve
NY: Scholastic, 2010
ages 8 - 11
available on Amazon and at your local library

Philip Reeve is well known for his steampunk Mortal Engines series for teens and sci-fi Larklight series for tweens, but here he creates an adventure fantasy for younger readers. Ansel, a nine year old mute boy, is sent by his father to be a servant to Brock, a man who travels from village to village earning his living by slaying dragons. Of course, Brock doesn’t really believe that there are really any dragons. He carries a crocodile skull and plenty of armor for show. Brock tells many great stories, and the superstitious mountain villagers and local lords promise to reward Brock for slaying their dragon and alleviating their fears.
And yet when Brock and Ansel go up high on the mountain they meet a young girl, Else, who was left by the villagers as a sacrifice to the dragon. Somehow, Else has survived and she warns them that the dragon does truly exist. Should Ansel trust his instinct or his master? And how can Ansel get a grip on his mounting fear? Can he be brave and help Else? Will they be able to escape the harsh mountain and the threat of the dragon?
Reeve creates compelling dilemmas and characters, with no clear black and white sense of good or evil. Each character must figure out their loyalties along the way. It's fascinating the way Reeve prompts readers to think about the different perspectives. I loved getting the sense that Ansel started thinking about the events from the dragon's perspective, realizing that the dragon was just a wild animal searching for food in an environment encroached upon by mankind. The mountain settings, inspired by the Lake District in England, are superbly described, as Ansel, Brock and Else fight for their lives. For more background on how the story developed, see Philip Reeve's website.

Reeve also drew pen and ink line drawings for each chapter, a few of which he shared with us here. The illustrations helped me visualize the story, giving me enough details to start me thinking about a scene, and yet not so many that they gave me the whole picture. The scene then started coming alive in my mind as the writing filled in more and more details.

The review copy was kindly provided by the Association of Children's Librarians, and the illustrations were kindly shared by Philip Reeve. If you make a purchase from Amazon through this site, a small portion will go to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.