Saturday, December 5, 2009

Sunrise or A Wrinkle in Time

Sunrise (Warriors: Power of Three Series #6)

Author: Erin Hunter

There will be three, kin of your kin . . . who hold the power of the stars in their paws.

A mysterious murder in the ranks has ripped ThunderClan apart. But more secrets still remain to be discovered.

Jayfeather is determined to find out who his real parents are. But he'll have to trample through a forest of lies in order to uncover the truth. Hollyleaf is shocked by her Clan's disobedience of the warrior code, and distraught enough to strike out at someone she's always admired. And Lionblaze must bear horrified witness to events that will change everything he believes.

In the harshest days of leaf-bare Clanmate turns upon Clanmate, danger lurks behind familiar faces, and one more warrior may be lost forever. . . .

Children's Literature

Book six of the "Warriors: Power of Three" series begins with tumult among the members of Thunderclan. Ashfur has been murdered and the clan sends warriors to find Sol, a clanless cat, and bring him back for justice. Siblings Lionblaze, Hollyleaf, and Jayfeather have learned that Squirreltail lied when she claimed to be their mother. News of their questionable parentage may mean they are not the powerful three mentioned in the prophecy. While they want this news to remain secret, each deals with it in a different way. Lionblaze is determined to use his warrior skills to learn the truth while on the quest to find Sol. Hollyleaf's anger causes her to become careless and leads to tragic results. Jayfeather, apprentice to Leafpool the medicine cat, uses detective skills to seek the truth. Warriors fans will welcome this title in the adventures of the cat clans. While the numerous characters may be confusing to those unfamiliar with the series, it will not take many pages for them to become enthralled with the adventures of the cats and anxiously be awaiting future books. Reviewer: Shirley Nelson



New interesting book: The New Inquisition or Crashing the Gate

A Wrinkle in Time

Author: Madeleine LEngl

Father is missing! His top secret job as a physicist for the government has taken him away--but where?--and how? Meg and her younger brother, Charles Wallace, set out with their friend Calvin on an exciting adventure through time and space to search for him. With the help of the mysterious Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, the youngsters learn to expect the unexpected as they move in the fifth dimension known as the "tesseract".

With this award-winning story, Madeline L'Engle has captivated millions of readers throughout the world. Her universal themes of courage, perseverance, and love are interwoven with imagination and suspense. A Wrinkle in Time, published in 1962, won the distinguished Newbery Medal for children's literature in 1963.

Barbara L. Talcroft - Children's Literature

Winner of the Newbery Medal in 1963, L'Engle's work of fantasy and science fiction combined with some Christian theology has now been read by several generations of young enthusiasts. The author went on to write three others, forming a quartet based on the Murry family, and including themes like the power of love and the need to make responsible moral choices. In this story, Meg Murry, her extraordinary little brother Charles Wallace, and schoolmate Calvin O'Keefe make the acquaintance of eccentric Mrs. Whatsit and friends (who turn out to be extraterrestrial beings). Together they journey through a wrinkle in time, a tesseract, to rescue the Murrys' missing father from an evil presence (likened by some interpreters to a black hole), and a sinister brain called IT. Although this is fantasy, the characters are portrayed realistically and sympathetically; it is Meg's ability to love that enables them to return safely to Earth and make secure the right to individuality. L'Engle herself claims that she does not know how she came to write the story; "I had no choice," she says, "It was only after it was written that I realized what some of it meant." A plus with this new edition is an essay by Lisa Sonne that explores scientific concepts related to the story—multiple dimensions, dark energy, and string theory. Each of these concepts were conceived since the book's 1962 publication but are amazingly applicable to A Wrinkle in Time, and help to ensure that this imaginative book will be read for a long time into the future. 2005 (orig. 1962), Laurel Leaf/Random House, Ages 9 up.



Friday, December 4, 2009

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories or Happy Birthday to You

Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories

Author: Dr Seuss

Illus. in color. Three modern fables in humorous pictures and verse.  

Children's Literature

Every few years Random House reissues the various Dr. Seuss tales including this one, which dates back to the 1950s, before his Cat in the Hat easy-reads, and why shouldn't they?! It is likely that many share my firm belief that one is never too young or too old for Dr. Seuss. Leaders of state might do well to curl up with a child or grandchild and Yertle the Turtle, for example. Reading how the most overweening arrogance can be upset by a burp should help them think about building their power on the backs of their subjects. The lessons of Gertrude McFuzz and the Big Brag are equally salutary and equally easy to go back to again and again, thanks to inimitable rollicking rhymes and Seussy illustrations. The only way in which this "Party Edition" seems to differ from any other is that the cover is a little glitzier. Reviewer: Mary Hynes-Berry



Read also The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People or Perfect Phrases for Managers and Supervisors

Happy Birthday to You! (Pop-Up)

Author: Dr Seuss

Today is your birthday! Today you are you!... There is no one alive that is you-er than you!
Six pages of rollicking pop-ups animate this simple adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic. It's the best-of-the-best way to say... Happy Birthday to You!


From the Hardcover Library Binding edition.

Publishers Weekly

The Birthday Honk-Honker (" Wake Up! For today is your Day of all Days") and the Great Birthday Bird ("Come on! Brush your teeth and get dressed! It's your Day of all Days! It's the Best of the Best!") get the party started in Dr. Seuss's 1959 classic Happy Birthday to You!, now available in a handsize, pop-up edition. Fun paper engineering adds even more energy to Seuss's signature illustrations.



Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Pippi Longstocking or Moonlight on the Magic Flute

Pippi Longstocking

Author: Astrid Lindgren

The beloved story of a spunky young girl and her hilarious escapades.

Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a pet monkey named Mr. Nilsson. Whether Pippi’s scrubbing her floors, doing arithmetic, or stirring things up at a fancy tea party, her flair for the outrageous always seems to lead to another adventure.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5 This oversize edition of the classic story has much to offer a new generation of readers. It has new full-color illustrations, some full spread, and a new translation. Nunnally updates some of Florence Lamborn's old-fashioned phrases and makes other terms more politically correct. For example, the original English translation calls Pippi's father a "Cannibal King," while this one calls him a "King of Natives." In Lamborn's version, Pippi goes for a "morning promenade"; here, she simply goes for a "morning walk." Nunnally's language flows naturally and gives a fresh, modern feel to the line drawings, filled with color and pattern, to create a Pippi who is full of personality. A variety of perspectives, colors, and textures adds movement and excitement to the story. Child often incorporates the text into the art, linking the text and illustration into a single whole. Libraries should consider archiving (or retiring) older editions of this old favorite, and replacing them with this new offering.-Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT



Book about: Competitive Strategy or Boards That Make a Difference

Moonlight on the Magic Flute (Magic Tree House Series #41)

Author: Mary Pope Osborn

Jack and Annie head to 18th-century Austria, where they must find and help a musician by the name of Mozart. Decked out in the craziest outfits they’ve ever worn—including a wig for Jack and a giant hoopskirt for Annie!—the two siblings search an entire palace to no avail. Their hunt is further hampered by the appearance of a mischievous little boy who is determined to follow them everywhere. But when the boy lets the animals out of the palace zoo, Jack and Annie have to use the only magic at their disposal to save themselves and the naughty little fellow.



Tuesday, December 1, 2009

PennyS Christmas Jar Miracle or Complete Fairy Tales and Stories

Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle

Author: Jason F Wright

Readers across the country have been touched and forever changed by the New York Times bestselling book Christmas Jars. Now, children can feel the spirit of the Christmas Jar in this full- color illustrated children's picture book. Penny's Christmas Jar Miracle is an original story based on the Christmas Jars tradition that has touched hundreds of thousands of lives. Penny Paisley and her family have a special Christmas tradition. All year long they collect their loose change and drop it in a glass jar on the kitchen counter. Then, each December, Penny and her family make their most exciting decision of the year: Who will receive the Paisley Family Christmas Jar? This year, Penny gets to choose what to do with the jar, and she has something special in mind. "Instead of just giving our jar to only one person or one family, what if we gave it to the entire neighborhood?" said Penny. "We could use the Christmas jar money to have the biggest and best party anyone has ever been to. No one will ever forget it!" To earn money for the Christmas Jar, Penny sets up a hot chocolate stand in front of her house. Mr. Charlie, the kind elderly man across the street, is her best customer. He even helps her make invitations for the party. But when Mr. Charlie becomes ill, Penny sets a new plan in motion and gets the whole neighborhood involved. Yes, this will be a Christmas and a party that no one will ever forget! Children will not only learn about compassion and service but, most important, they'll see that no matter what your age, you can make a difference in the life of someone else.



Complete Fairy Tales and Stories: Hans Christian Andersen (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classics)

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

157 tales in a handsome, leather-bound collector's edition.