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PICTURE BOOKS In The Day the Circus Came to Town, by Melody Carlson, Billy’s family has tickets to see the circus. This is a special event because he and his sister Emma have never been to the circus. Later in the day he and his friends are playing when they meet Zino the Clown from the circus. Zino offers the boys tickets, but Seth, Samuel, and Jack give Zino a hard time. They decide circuses are for babies, so Billy agrees with the other boys and refuses the ticket. That evening Billy refuses to go with his family to the circus. While his family is gone he decides to play with his friends but none of them is at home. Then Billy decides it would not hurt to go and check out the circus. He peers into the tent and sees his friends inside with their families. Billy decides he really wants to be with his family, but the man at the door will not let him in without a ticket. Billy is ready to go home when Zino the Clown appears with a ticket. Zino offers Billy another chance to see the circus and Billy is happy to accept the invitation. The message to "follow your heart and not your friends" is clear in this story. While some children will find this story "old-fashioned," it will be good for discussions about how decisions have consequences. The illustrations truly compliment the style of the author’s story. Susan K. Brown, Teacher, Noblesville, Indiana Elliot bakes a cake, written and illustrated by Andrea Beck. (An Elliot Moose story.) Toronto, Ont.: Kids Can Press, 1999. ISBN 1550744437, HBB, $12.95. E. Animals--Fiction. 32 p. Small children. It’s Lionel’s birthday and Elliot wants to make him a cake. Elliot recruits Socks, Amy, and Paisley to help. They run to tell Beaverton their plan. After digging around in his cupboard Beaverton finds a good cake recipe. Finding everything they need, the friends work together to make the cake. Problems begin when they don’t understand what it means to separate eggs. Do you put them in separate bowls? And does cream the butter mean you pour cream on the butter? However, their biggest problem is deciding when the cake is done. The recipe says when they touch the cake it will spring up. But no matter how close they watch it, the cake doesn’t spring up. First it wobbles, then it doesn’t do anything, and while they waiting for it to spring up it burns. Disappointed, but resourceful, they cut off the burned part, decorate the cake, and surprise Lionel with "the best cake they had ever tasted." A story of co-operation and resourcefulness, Elliot Bakes A Cake will delight young readers. Often faced with complex situations or instructions they don’t understand, young children will empathize with the animals as they stumble through the directions. And they will be thrilled with the inventive solution to the problem. Andrea Beck encourages the reader to persevere in spite of problems. Beck’s delightful, brightly colored animals crowd the pages with happy expressive faces. The recipe for the cake is on the last page of the book. It is worded just like the recipe the animals used. Children, or even adults who are not in the habit of baking, could find the recipe a bit confusing. Barbara A. Bryden, Freelance Writer, Olympia, Washington Enemy pie, by Derek Munson; illustrated by Tara Calahan King. LCCN 99050821. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2000. ISBN 081182778X, HBB, $14.95. E. Friendship--Fiction; Fathers and sons--Fiction; Pies--Fiction. unp. Small children. In Derek Munson’s Enemy Pie, the author shows how one boy learned to accept differences in people and make a new friend. This charming story chronicles the stages of friendship. The problem begins when Jeremy Ross moves into the neighborhood and does things that really upset the main character in the story. The main character seeks advice from his dad, who understands stuff like enemies. Dad even knows a way to get rid of enemies. His secret weapon is enemy pie. It is guaranteed to get rid of enemies. The main character brings his dad all sorts of things to put in the pie like worms, rocks, already chewed gum, but dad gives it all back. Then Dad says the hardest part of making enemy pie work is up to you. You have to spend a whole day with your enemy. The main character is not sure about this idea but he follows his dad’s advice. In just a short time the boys were having a great time together. Now it is time to have some enemy pie. The boys sit down with Dad to eat their pie and ice cream. Then panic sets in. The main character does not want Jeremy Ross to eat the pie. He tries to stop Jeremy, but Jeremy asks, "If it is bad then why has your dad already eaten half of it?" The enemy pie is delicious and the boys became friends. This story will lend itself to discussions about friends and enemies. Most children will be able to relate to at least one of the characters in the story. Tara Calahan King uses color pencil and pastel illustrations to add to this great story. Susan K. Brown, Teacher, Noblesville, Indiana The everything book, by Denise Fleming. LCCN 99053626. New York: Henry Holt, 2000. ISBN 0805062920, HBB, $18.95. E. Children’s literature; Literature--Collections. 64 p. Small children. From the sunshine yellow end papers to the bright colorful paper pulp paintings of children and common everyday objects, Denise Fleming’s The Everything Book is a joy. Fleming calls this book her ‘diaper bag book,’ while the book jacket says ‘something for everyone.’ They are both right! Whether in a diaper bag or on a library shelf, this cornucopia of rhymes, poems, labeled pictures, and wonderful pictures of a small child’s daily life would entertain a small child for a long time. The title page has seventeen ladybugs trailing across it, which sets up a treasure hunt for the rest of the book: How many ladybugs are on each page? Page 62 includes a list of the number of bugs found on each page (although the ladybugs on the book jacket are not mentioned) and the ladybug parade continues right onto the last page, where the final ladybug flies across a starry sky filled with a huge crescent moon and the words, ‘Bye-Bye.’ On the way to ‘Bye-Bye,’ little lapsitters can learn the names of common kitchen items, fruits, colors, animals, and even body parts (including an overalled rear labeled ‘bottom’), as well as listen to poems about subjects as diverse as chickens, fireflies, and traffic lights. Fleming likes to put personal touches in her books from time to time; in this one, the faces on pages 50-51 include Fleming’s great-niece-inlaw, Lexie, and a little girl that represents what Fleming thinks her Henry Holt editor, Laura Godwin, looked like as a child. The final personal touch is a poignant one. Children, no matter how old they grow, are always children in their mothers’ hearts, and although Fleming’s daughter Indigo is now grown up, The Everything Book is dedicated to her. Betty Winslow, Bowling Green Christian Academy, Bowling Green, Ohio Fantastic faith. (Jay Jay the jet plane.) Nashville: Tommy Nelson, Thomas Nelson, . ISBN 849975468, VID, $12.97. E. Children--Conduct of life; Children--Religious life; Christian life. 1 videocassette, col., 30 min. Small children. How can children face their fears and talk about them? How do they deal with fear of the dark, or the jitters of the first day of school? Computer animation is used to create a story for each of these three areas. Fantastic Faith centers around Jay Jay, the Jet Plane, an inviting animated character with a human face. Jay Jay is ashamed to share his bad dream with friends but via song and talk about his fears, comes to face them. On his first day of school he learns he’s not the only plane who has ever struggled with first-day jitters. On a camping trip, Snuffy overcomes his fear of the dark with help from Jay Jay. Each of the short stories brings God into the picture, e.g., God helps us through our friends in the first story, and we are never really lost to God in the third story where stars are the focal point for dealing with the dark. Children will like the quick moving pace of the stories, the delightful animation, and the original songs. Parents can utilize the stories with confidence, even retelling portions, as kids will likely remember the stories. Recommended for all children’s libraries. Leroy Hommerding, Director, Fort Myers Beach P.L. District, Fort Myers, Florida Farmer Brown’s field trip, written by Melody Carlson; illustrations by Steve Bjorkman. LCCN 99053086. Wheaton, S P R I N G 2 0 0 1 1 2 C H R I S T I A N L I B R A R Y J O U R N A L
PICTURE BOOKS Ill.: Crossway Books, Good News Publishers, 2000. ISBN 1581341423, HBB, $9.99. E. Parables; Stories in rhyme. unp. Small children. Spring is in the air, and chores need to be done. One of those chores is plowing the fields. Farmer Brown gets his equipment ready and accidentally drops his glasses. Molly, his faithful mule, steps on his glasses and now Farmer Brown has a problem. Without these glasses, he is unable to see where he is plowing. He blindly plows the fields, without realizing the haphazard pattern he is creating. Finally, he buys another pair of glasses, surveys his work, and discovers the fruit of his labors. Melody Carlson has creatively woven a children’s story from the parable of the sower. Her rhyme is easy to read, easy to understand, and moves along at a quick tempo. Ms. Carlson has taken a parable that could be difficult to teach children and made it easy to understand. Steve Bjorkman’s illustrations in Farmer Brown’s Field Trip are colorful and fun and nicely convey the message of Ms. Carlson’s rhyme. This book is an excellent choice for children at any library. Debby Willett, Freelance Writer, Canyon, Texas ★ Forever friends, by Joni Eareckson Tada and Melody Carlson; illustrated by Douglas Klauba. LCCN 00010098. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2000. ISBN 1581342160, HBB, $14.00. E. Dolls--Fiction; Toys--Fiction; Friendship--Fiction. 28 p. Small children. Mr. Giovanni’s toys come alive when he leaves for the day. His newest creation is Jenny, a doll named after his own daughter. Jenny has clear eyes, taffy-colored hair, and a red gingham dress. As soon as Mr. Giovanni leaves, Jenny begins her search for a friend. There are shelves and shelves of toys and Jenny almost doesn’t know where to start. She approaches other dolls next to her, but learns they are not eager to be friends. Their idea of fun is sitting and talking. Jenny has other ideas. She approaches toy soldiers, a stuffed dog, and other toys before finally visiting with a stuffed rabbit named Rabbie. Rabbie is old and worn—not what Jenny is looking for in a friend. But Rabbie is also well-loved, and has wisdom for Jenny, wisdom that helps Jenny to be a better friend. Forever Friends, by Joni Eareckson Tada with Melody Carson, is a shining story of what true friendship is all about. Sometimes we pick our friends for the wrong reasons. Rabbie reminds us that our hearts make the best choices. The colorful illustrations of Douglas Klauba are detailed and charming, giving life to the words. Forever Friends is a wonderful reminder that physical differences should not be our ruler of people’s value. Debby Willett, Freelance Writer, Canyon, Texas Franklin’s class trip, written by Paulette Bourgeois; illustrated by Brenda Clark. Toronto, Ont.: Kids Can Press, 1999. ISBN 1550744704, HBB, $10.95. E. Schools--Fiction. unp. Small children. Filled with excitement about his first field trip to the museum, Franklin, a young turtle, can barely eat breakfast. At the museum, classmate Beaver tells Franklin the reason the museum is so big is because of the dinosaurs inside. Unaware these are not live dinosaurs, Franklin and his friend Snail worry that they will be the dinosaur’s lunch. Exploring the bat cave, rain forest, medieval room, and archaeology dig distract Franklin and Snail and they forget their fear until lunchtime. Apprehensively, Franklin and Snail approach the dinosaur area with their classmates. Upon discovering that the dinosaurs are only skeletons, Franklin and Snail can finally relax and enjoy their field trip. While being frightened about dinosaurs may seem silly to some readers, every child can relate to being scared about something. In Franklin’s Class Trip, the characters confront their fears and then move beyond them. Authors Paulette Bourgeois and Sharon Jennings tell a reassuring story that will ring true to many children and also make them giggle. Brenda Clark’s detailed illustrations match perfectly with this innocent tale, truly completing the book. Excitement, fear, and relief are all clearly seen through the colorful drawings. Children familiar with Franklin through his television show, or just now introduced to this preschool turtle, will enjoy hearing this story. Elizabeth Coleman, Freelance Writer, Tumwater, Washington Franklin’s neighborhood, written by Sharon Jennings; illustrated by Brenda Clark. Toronto, Ont.: Kids Can Press, 1999. ISBN 1550747290, HBB, $10.95. E. Neighbors--Fiction. unp. Small children. Franklin, a young turtle eager to learn, is ready for the first project of the new school year. Mr. Owl gives the class their assignment. Students are to draw a picture of what they like best about their neighborhood. Racing home, Franklin skips his snack and sits down with crayon and paper. Trying to narrow down his very favorite thing is harder than he thought. To get some ideas, Franklin goes for a walk. Traveling his neighborhood, Franklin meets with friends Beaver, Fox, Moose, and Bear who share their favorite things. Each of their ideas sound good, but how can he pick just one? Finally, Franklin realizes his neighbors are what he likes best about his neighborhood. His unique drawing includes them all. Written by Sharon Jennings, Franklin’s Neighborhood has a simple, but engaging plot. Valuable lessons could be gleaned from several themes found in the book. Franklin perseveres even when he is having difficulty thinking of what to draw. Although he talks to his friends and his parents, Franklin still thinks of an idea that is all his own. Brenda Clark’s detailed color illustrations capture the sweetness of the story. Although the animals have been slightly embellished with hats, glasses, or backpacks, they still have a fairly realistic look. Whether Franklin is a familiar face or not, children will enjoy hearing this story again and again. Elizabeth Coleman, Freelance Writer, Tumwater, Washington Gabriel, God, and the fuzzy blanket, text by Annette Griessman; illustrations by David L. Erickson. LCCN 99053212. Harrisburg, Pa.: Morehouse Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0819218057, HBB, $16.95. E. Blankets--Fiction; Fear--Fiction; Christian life-- Fiction. unp. Small children. Dealing with fear is the focus in Annette Griessman’s Gabriel, God, and the Fuzzy Blanket. When Jacob forgets his security blanket as he and his parents are visiting relatives, his fears are magnified. His great aunt and uncle, the dark, unfamiliar room, and especially the big dog Gabriel all scare him. After his parents pray with him about the fears, Jacob reminds himself that God is near to help him. Things become less scary and even Gabriel turns out to be friendly. Griessman’s book is nicely done and addresses a subject with which many parents may be familiar. The ending is predictable, but the lesson is clear and helpful. The book would make a good read-aloud and discussion-starter for children facing this problem. David Erickson’s color paintings are across the page spreads that well accompany the text. Betsy Ruffin, Teacher/Librarian, Cleburne, Texas Good ol’ Noah had an ark, E-I-E-I-O, written by Martha Bolton; illustrated by Lyn Boyer Nelles. Grand Rapids: Zonderkidz, Zondervan, 2000. ISBN 0310231981, HBB, $12.99. E. Noah (Biblical leader). unp. Small children. Small children will enjoy this amusing version of Noah and the ark written by Martha Bolton. Set to the song, "Old MacDonald," it can be read or sung. The first verse of Good Ol’ Noah Had an Ark begins, "Good ol’ Noah obeyed God. E- I-E-I-O. The neighbors thought ol’ Noah odd. E-I-E-I-O. With a snicker, snicker here, and a snicker, snicker there. Here a snicker, there a laugh! Yes, they should’ve built a raft! Good ol’ Noah obeyed God. E-I-E-I-O." Humorous verses continue with repetition, rhythm, and rhyme, telling about building the ark and the animals aboard. "With a neigh neigh here and a quack quack there." Then the flood comes "with a splish, splash here, and a splish, splash there." But Noah is saved because he obeyed.Although based on a Bible story, Bolton includes imaginative and fictional details. For example, when she describes Noah building the ark, she writes: "With an Ouch! Ouch! here and an Ouch! Ouch! there. Here an Ouch! there an Ouch! No wonder he was such a grouch!" Bolton, who has been writing humor for years, served as a staff writer for Bob Hope and wrote C H R I S T I A N L I B R A R Y J O U R N A L 1 3 S P R I N G 2 0 0 1
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ADULT FICTION enabling her to “we
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ADULT FICTION Ten years later their
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ADULT NONFICTION and C.S. Lewis. In
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ADULT NONFICTION Good news about in
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ADULT NONFICTION couples pray toget
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ADULT NONFICTION ★ Come what may,
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REFERENCE 371.35025. Distance educa
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REFERENCE (610-756). From essays su
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INDEX David Livingstone 41 Davidson
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INDEX Mohr, Joseph 28 Mollel, Tolol
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