June 2003
The Amazing Love Story of Mr Morf
By Carl Cneut
This is Belgian writer Carll Cneut's first foray into the American publishing world. In this book Mr. Morf, the circus dog, decides to leave his friends in the circus in search of a companion. He packs up his bone-shaped suitcase and, after failed attempts with the owl that sleeps during the day, the pig that likes mud too much, and the mole that can't find his way out into the light, he finds his true mate in Isabella. Cneut's quirkily outfitted acrylic and oil characters will surely captivate young readers. His agility with composition and color makes each page feel like a work of art.
Hi, Harry
By Martin Waddell, Illustrated by Barbara Firth
Not unlike Mr. Morf, Harry is also in search of a friend. Alas, all the animals race by him too fast and he cannot keep up. That is, until he meets Sam the Snail whose gait is perfect for him. Together, they play "slow races" and head-tucking games, and compare stories about being slow. Martin Waddell's simple text combined with Barbara Firth's deceptively simple watercolors will make this book a perfect fit for toddlers.
A Camping Spree
By Chris Van Dusen
This second installment in the adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog Dee is a perfectly frolicky book to read. The rhyming adventure will entertain young kids while the fab fifties color palette will make even the most discerning colorists jump for joy. This is a fun one to read at the campgrounds, in the camper, or by the light of the bedside. Just don't try to do it at home.
Sahara Special
By Esme Raji Codell
From the first page it was clear to me that the author of this book has spent time in a classroom. In fact, she is the author of the acclaimed Educating Esmé: Diary of a Teacher's First Year. Sahara Special, a middle school reader, opens with Sahara, her mom, and the school counselor, Mr. Stinger, reviewing Sahara's less than stellar school files. After a failed attempt at special help, it is decided that Sahara must repeat the fifth grade. Fortunately, her teacher this time around is a new teacher named Miss
Pointy: ". . . her nose is pointy; her ears are pointy; her shoes are pointy; sometimes even her voice is pointy." Her interactions with children would put Mary Poppins to shame. Encouraging Sahara to open up and act on her dream to be a writer is probably just one of the miracles Miss Pointy performs during the school year. This book is a beautifully written treat that reminded me what a national resource a wonderful teacher can be.
Keeping You a Secret
By Julie Anne Peters
As a young preteen and teen reader I found no greater pleasure than losing myself in the allure of a high school love story—in fact, I still do. In Keeping You a Secret, Julie Anne Peters successfully portrays the tension between two kids who discover their attraction to one another while juggling the stresses of high school friendships and parental pressure. Narrated by Holland Jaeger, a popular senior who is dating the equally popular Seth, the story follows Holland's heightening interest in CeCe, an openly lesbian student. In the tradition of love story classics like Annie on my Mind and Dare Truth or Promise, this very contemporary coming-out story is bound to capture your heart.
