Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan - great adventure & fun! (ages 9 - 12)

"Oh Mom, they have to make a movie of this book!" My two oldest children are engrossed in reading The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan, and kids are starting to talk about how good it is. Today I sat down with a group to talk about their thoughts. The Lost Hero is the first in a new series, The Heroes of Olympus, but it also continues the setting and some of the characters from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. 

The Lost Hero:
The Heroes of Olympus, Book 1
by Rick Riordan
NY: Disney/Hyperion, 2010
ages 9-12
available on Amazon and at your local library

The Lost Hero is getting rave reviews from kids who have eaten up Riordan's earlier series about Percy Jackson, son of Neptune, the Greek god of the sea, and a mortal mother. Now I must admit that kids have snatched the copy out from my hands so fast that I haven't had a chance to read it yet - so this review is straight from the kids.

The Lost Hero "was very adventurous. I liked the way it still retained that Percy Jackson feel with lightly more moving around." Like the previous books, Riordan has plenty of action, suspense and magical items. Kids report that his writing is very descriptive, especially creating the picture of Camp Half Blood with the cabins for the different gods. The Canadian wilderness was also memorable to these readers, with its icy wilderness and rigorous challenges.

"I like the way that he added the Roman gods to this story. I used to think that they were the same as the Greek gods, but realize now that they had their own personalities." My test group overall found this aspect interesting and not confusing. The librarian is me is cheering!

I asked my group if the length was a problem (576 pages long!), and this small group of students said that it was very fast-paced. "I'm reading it really fast," said one student. "It's a real cliff hanger, so I want to keep reading more and more." Others said that they wished it were longer!

The only complaints came from readers who wanted more of the Percy Jackson characters in the story. One reader had an interesting suggestion to make more time have elapsed between the characters, so you felt more distance from the previous characters you had really enjoyed.

For more reviews, check out these blogs: Pink Me, and The Bookette.  Our 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.

Amazing Faces, by Lee Bennett Hopkins: celebrating diversity through wonderful poems (ages 4 - 12)

Poetry has the potential to speak to children in a way that really touches their hearts. I try to sprinkle it in throughout our reading at home and in the library - just a poem here or there to enjoy, not necessarily to belabor the point. Amazing Faces is an inspiring collection of poems that children will love having at home and in school. Lee Bennett Hopkins, a tremendous anthologist and poet, has collected sixteen poems that celebrate the diversity of our schools and our communities in America today. It is one of my favorite books of the entire year, and one that I nominated for the Cybils Award.

Amazing Faces
by Lee Bennett Hopkins
illustrated by Chris Soentpiet
NY: Lee and Low Books, 2010
ages 4 - 12
available on Amazon and at your local library

This collection of sixteen poems will evoke personal responses from children as they see themselves and their friends reflected in these poems. Hopkins, author of over 130 books of poetry for children, has gathered poems from some of today's best known children's poets, including Nikki Grimes, Jane Yolen, Janet S. Wong, and Joseph Bruchac. But the children in the poems really come front and center, as you read about a boy who falls asleep beside his mother as she sews clothes, a young girl who practices karate, a family who listens to their great aunt tell stories around the fireplace, and many more.

One of my daughter's favorite poems is "Aunt Molly Sky", by Joseph Bruchac. I particularly enjoy this stanza:

"A certain smile always appears
when she feels a story about to come.
That smile is like an open door
All of us, young and old, are welcome."

- from Aunt Molly Sky, by Joseph Bruchac

The illustrations by Chris Soentpiet are wonderful, and will draw children who might be hesitant to try poetry into this collection. Soentpiet fills his illustrations with people from many different ethnic backgrounds, and he took careful effort to make the details reflect their ethnicity. For example, he writes in an interview on publisher Lee and Low's website,

"Since there are lots of different nationalities in this book, I had to make sure the trinkets and jewelry match what the characters would wear. I had to make sure the Native-American grandmother wears costume jewelry that reflects her heritage but at the same time was trying not to "stereotype" the look. Subsequently, I attended two powwows to learn about the Native Americans."

Great stories are a mirror to see yourself, your friends, your family - this collection a wonderful way to share that experience with children. It is a collection I will share at home and at school with children, drawing them into poetry, and giving them a chance to see themselves and their friends reflected in wonderful artwork and poems.

The illustrations here are all by Chris Soentpiet, shared with permission of the illustrator. Find out more information about Amazing Faces on Lee and Low's website. I particularly found the stories behind the poems fascinating. Nine of the poems are original for this collection. Make sure you read Lee Bennett Hopkins interview on Wild Rose Reader, as part of the NCTE convention - here and here. Other reviews include:
- Carol's Corner
- Wrapped in Foil
- Kids Lit

The review copy came from my local public library. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion will go to Great Kid Books. Thank you for your support.

Ivy & Bean - a great pair of friends

Ivy and Bean are two friends who are goofy and full of mischief - perfect for young kids to relate to. My first grader is just listening to these stories for the first time, and loving it - I just love watching her grin as she hears about the tricks Ivy and Bean play on Bean's big sister. Celebrate Ivy & Bean Day this weekend, November 6th, at bookstores near you. The newest book in the series is full of laughs and fun as the two girls try all sorts of experiments.

Ivy & Bean: What's the Big Idea?
by Annie Barrows
illustrations by Sophie Blackall
CA: Chronicle Books, 2010
ages 5 - 9

The Science Fair brings out the creative thinking in all the kids in Ivy and Bean's 2nd grade class. Kids are working on man-eating robots, having contests to hold their breath for the longest time, and figuring out other ways to help global warming. But Ivy and Bean can't figure out which of their great ideas they should do. Something involving explosions? Or ropes? Something with ice cubes? As always, there's sure-fire laughs as they come up with their own take on the project.

Annie Barrows has several events this weekend celebrating Ivy and Bean Day. She is a great presenter, and makes kids laugh and want to READ! A perfect combination! Hooray!

Saturday, November 6, 11am
Mrs. Dalloway's Books
Berkeley, Calif.
For information: 510-704-8222

Saturday, November 6, 4pm
Book Passage
Corte Madera, Calif.
For information: 415-927-0960

Sunday, November 7, 11am
Books Inc.
Burlingame, Calif.
For information: 650-685-4911

Sunday, November 7, 2:30 pm
Hicklebee's
San Jose, Calif.
For information: 408-292-8880

Tuesday, November 9, 4pm
Copperfield's Books
Petaluma, Calif.
For information: 707-762-0563

I will add in other Ivy and Bean Days as I find out about them.

The review copy came from my local bookstore, the wonderful Mrs. Dalloways Books.

Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Do you ever read a book that is so stunning that you want to go out and buy your best friend a copy? You want to tell everyone you meet about it? I found the Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes, absolutely stunning - a book I want to give to my best friends so we can talk about it. Lanesha is a 12-year old child of the Ninth Ward in New Orleans; and she survives through Hurricane Katrina and conditions that no child, no person should have undergone. This is a story that is at once devastating and life-affirming, one that will leave kids wanting to know more about this horrible point in history, and yet also believing in children's ability to persevere.

Ninth Ward
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
NY: Little, Brown and Co., 2010
ages 10 - 14
available on Amazon and at your local library

Lanesha was born to a wealthy, uptown New Orleans family, but her family has rejected her and. ever since her birth, Mama Ya-Ya has been both mother and grandmother. Mama Ya-Ya gives Lanesha the strength to walk proudly and believe in herself. Mama Ya-Ya has the gift of seeing into the future, and Lanesha has the gift of seeing ghosts from the past. These ghosts are just a part of life for Lanesha. When Mama Ya-Ya has a premonition that a bad storm is approaching, Lanesha pays attention and starts to prepare. They don't have the money or means to escape New Orleans when the mandatory evacuation order comes, and so they prepare the best they can at home.

Jewell Parker Rhodes' writing is beautifully evocative. She combines both a realistic child's voice with figurative language that blossoms in my mind. The novel is written in the first person, from Lanesha's point of view. This draws children right into her perspective. As the hurricane is approaching, she writes:

"I see darkness on the horizon. Rolling, rolling in like a too warm blanket. Wind has picked up, blowing leaves, causing branches to sway ever so slightly." (p. 124)

But even more than the suspense and danger that the storm brings, this novel brings a sense of hope and strength that Lanesha discovers within herself. As Mama Ya-Ya tells Yanesha,

"Your testing should've come much, much later. But when it came, you shined with love and strength." (p. 145).

Jewell Parker Rhodes describes in the afterward that books were her lifeline through a difficult childhood, and that she's been waiting to write a novel that will speak to children. This novel does indeed. It speaks to children, treating them with respect and dignity, knowing that they can understand a horrible situation, but they also can survive against all odds. It is a beautiful novel.

You can find a fascinating interview with her at The Happy Nappy Bookseller. Ms. Rhodes is an award-winning author of adult fiction; this is her first novel for children. I do hope she writes more stories to inspire children. Teachers can find more resources at the Ninth Ward website here.

As a parent, I would want to think about what age this novel is best for. It does describe a terrible event in our history, but it does so with sensitivity and compassion, and the main characters survive. I would suggest that students in 5th through 8th grades will find this compelling.

Find other reviews:
Charlotte's Library
Rasco from RIF
A Patchwork of Books
The Happy Nappy Bookseller

I purchased a review copy for my personal library, upon the suggestion of my great friend Kathy Shepler, librarian at Aurora School. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this page, a small portion will go toward Great Kid Books (at no cost to you). Thank you for your support.

Magic Trixie, by Jill Thompson (ages 7 - 10)

Magic Trixie is a treat for 3rd and 4th graders who love playful stories, graphic novels and fun characters. The graphic novel section is the most popular section at our library, and so I'm always seeking out new titles. I was delighted to find this series, with its vibrant colors and fun stories, and it's been a hit with kids so far.

Magic Trixie
by Jill Thompson
NY: Harper Trophy, 2008
ages 7 - 10
available on Amazon and at your local library

Magic Trixie is a little witch who has growing pains just like all kids. At home, she's frustrated that she can't do anything fun, while her baby sister gets away with everything. And then at school, all her friends seem to have the coolest tricks to share. So when her teacher tells them it's share and tell day, Magic Trixie knows she has to find a really special trick to impress all her friends.

Magic Trixie is bursting with color, action and emotion. The illustrations are bright and energetic, full of details that make you laugh. The text is simple enough to be read independently by a 3rd grader, so it will appeal to kids who have moved beyond the Babymouse books. Best of all, while the stories are definitely full of magic and fantasy, they're grounded in kids' every day experiences: friendships, family life, and struggles all kids go through.

Take a look at the book on HarperCollin's website. You can see the first 20 pages and get a real feel for the book.

Jill Thompson has written two other books featuring Magic Trixie and her friends: Magic Trixie Sleeps Over and Magic Trixie and the Dragon. She is an established comic book illustrator and writer, and I'm so happy she's writing for this age group. Her Scary Godmother comics have just been collected into a hardcover book that will be great for libraries!

The review copies came from my local public libraries. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this page, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you). Thank you for your support!

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow, by Gary Golio (ages 9 - 14)

Many kids these days dream of being rock musicians, and yet I wonder what the childhood of many famous rock musicians was like. Are they born with a true gift, or did they practice and practice their music? I do know that some children are drawn to music from an early age - it resonates with them, fills them. If your child is drawn to rock music, they will be fascinated by the new book Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow, written by Gary Golio and illustrated by Javaka Steptoe. It is absolutely worth seeking out.

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow
by Gary Golio
illustrated by Javaka Steptoe
Boston: Clarion Books, 2010
ages 8 - 14
available on Amazon or your local library

Jimi Hendrix was a child who soaked in the world around him, noticing sounds of the rain, the rushing water, truck engines and siren wailing. "With every sound, a color glowed in Jimmy's mind. Blue was the whoosh of cool water, splashing over rocks. Orange and red, the crackling of a campfire. Green, the rustle of a thousand leaves... He wondered: Could a person use music like chalks and colored pencils? Could someone paint pictures with sound?" These questions will resonate with students, speak to their hearts and make them think about how they see and hear the world around them.

Javaka Steptoe's artwork is full of color, as he uses mixed-media collage to show the impression of Jimi's childhood world. He steeped himself in Jimi's world and neighborhood, painting on plywood from a store in a Seattle neighborhood.  As Steptoe writes in the illustrator's note, "I thought about the depth and texture of his (Hendrix's) music, so I layered and used bright colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple - rainbow colors."

I asked author Gary Golio to reflect on what reading meant to him during his childhood, and he responded with this wonderful essay:

Superhuman Reading
by Gary Golio

I was a voracious reader as a kid—but rarely of anything that would be considered literary or classic.

For me, the long-awaited ritual each month consisted of pulling a dollar from my miniature “safe” (a toy bank), and walking down to the center of my suburban 60’ s town on a lovely spring, fall, summer, or even winter day. Once I reached my destination—the nondescript delicatessen-stationery store that smelled of roast coffee seasoned with the aromas of frying bacon and newsprint—I ambled over to the wall display of magazines and felt like I had entered Paradise. There, calling out to me in their crisp, colorful covers, were the only reading materials I needed to fire up my imagination, inspire moral rectitude, and keep me out of trouble—the newest editions of DC and Marvel comics.

What a treasure those books were (and yes, I consider those Silver Age comics to be books, or at least the abbreviated graphic novels of their time). There was: Iron Man—to spark ideas for new electronic gadgets that I’ d invent in my home workshop for deterring would-be crooks; SpiderMan—to console my tortured pre-adolescent psyche that Peter Parker actually had a worse social life than I; Superman—to inspire visions of the Earth and other planets seen from outer space, for voyage there one day; and Dr. Strange—Master of the Mystic Arts, who humbly saved the human race and all manner of sentient beings from unimagined threats and evils, without our knowledge or gratitude.

These were my heroes, and they existed between the pages of comic books.

In addition—and people laugh when I first say this—comic books were overflowing with fantastic vocabulary words: invulnerable (from Superman); gossamer (from Dr. Strange); transistorized, from Iron Man; and rhetorical from SpiderMan, to name just a few. In fact, I credit my love of new and unusual words to these stories, whose characters often spoke with an archaic diction: “ This bastion of evil and its inhabitants shall see horrific ruination at my hand!” (Thor, Prince of Asgard).

Most of all, though, comic books instilled in me the joy and purposefulness of reading—to look outside of oneself, and to learn from other men and women (even if they were make believe) how to survive this sometimes wild ride that we call Life.

[Gary Golio, an artist and clinical social worker, is the author of Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix, illustrated by Javaka Steptoe (Clarion Books), and the forthcoming When Bob Met Woody: The Story of the Young Bob Dylan, illustrated by Marc Burckhardt (Little, Brown).]

Thank you, Gary, for a wonderful essay about the power of reading and the way all types of reading can speak to us - just like all types of music can speak to us.  You won't be surprised that comic books and graphic novels are the most popular books in our library today! They still grab kids and fill their imaginations.

For more reviews of Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow, check out other stops on the blog tour:

Picture Book of the Day
Mitali's Fire Escape
The Brown Bookshelf
Original Content
Tales from the Rushmore Kid 
The Fourth Musketeer


There's also a great interview on NPR's Weekend Edition from last weekend - I really enjoyed hearing Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe, along with some of Hendrix's music.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers. If you make any purchases 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.