The Children's Hour - Children's Book Reviews - Third-Fifth Grade

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
THIRD - FIFTH GRADES
NOTABLE BOOKS 2006

Third-Fifth Grades

Best of Year 2009
Best of Year 2008
Notables from 2007
Notables from 2005
Notables from 2004
Notables from 2003
Favorites
Classics
Holiday/Special Days

Toddlers
Preschool
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Middle Grades
Upper Grades

THE JOURNEY: STORIES OF MIGRATION
written by Cynthia Rylant, illus. by Lambert Davis, (Blue Sky Press, $16.99, ISBN 0-590-30717-7), 48p, Ages 7-10.
Migration is usually for survival in the animal kingdom. Whether in search of food or warmth, six types of creatures are featured: desert locusts in Africa, gray whales in the Pacific Ocean, eels that survive both salt and fresh water, delicate Monarch butterflies, caribou from the Artic north, and tiny Terns who fly from the North Pole to the South Pole and back.

THE MIRACULOUS JOURNEY OF EDWARD TULANE
written by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Bagram Ibatoulline, (Candlewick Press, $18.99, ISBN 0-7636-2589-2), 228p, Ages 7+.
"Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a rabbit who was made almost entirely of china." Edward was dearly loved by his mistress, but he was exceedingly proud and heartless. His path to redemption begins when he falls overboard on a family vacation and is lost at sea. After several owners and many mishaps, Edward finally learns the meaning of humility, sacrifice, and love.

SOLOMON AND THE ANT AND OTHER JEWISH FOLKTALES
retold by Sheldon Oberman, commentary by Peninnah Schram, (Boyds Mills Press, $19.95, ISBN 1-59078-307-7), 168p, Ages 8+.
In the Jewish storytelling tradition, the late Sheldon Oberman retells forty-three folktales, handed down from generation to generation. Arranged chronologically, the tales address human behavior, insights to life, humorous, and thought-provoking stories. They include religious, wisdom, riddles, and trickster tales, each with a commentary that examines the meaning of the tale and its place in history. Included are bibliographical references and glossary. A great addition for collectors and libraries.

THE HAUNTING OF FREDDY: BOOK FOUR IN THE GOLDEN HAMPSTER SAGA
written by Dietlof Reiche, translated by John Brownjohn, illus. by Joe Cepeda, (Scholastic Press, $16.99, ISBN 0-439-53159-4), 240p, Ages 9-12.
Freddy and his friends, singing guinea pigs Enrich and Caruso, and Sir William, the civilized tomcat, travel to an English castle with their owner Mr. John. While there, Freddy continues working on his latest novel, "The Lord of the Ferrets." When his characters, an evil sixteenth-century poacher, Grim Harry, and his ferrets come to life, it falls to Freddy and his animal comrades to protect the castle where the poacher once lived. A fast-paced enjoyable read with clever illustrations.

THEODORE
written by Frank Keating, illus. by Mike Wimmer, (Simon & Schuster, $16.95, ISBN 978-0-689-86532-9), 32p, Ages 6-9.
This beautifully illustrated and eloquent biography captures the spirit and determination of our twenty-sixth president. Rising above a childhood of health problems, Theodore Roosevelt developed a fascination with animals and the natural world. By fifteen, he had traveled the world with his family and went on to become a rancher, hunter, soldier, a father of six, governor of New York, and the nation's youngest president at forty-two. The rich oil paintings bring to life this fascinating, hard-working man a century after his presidency.

I HEARD IT FROM ALICE ZUCCHINI
written by Juanita Havill, illus. by Christine Davenier, (Chronicle Books, $15.95, ISBN 0-8118-3962-1), 32p, Ages 6+.
Twenty delightful storytelling poems celebrate the world of the garden. Viewed from the ground level perspective of mice, snails, crickets, and a young fairy, children will love the rhythmic stories and lovely illustrations. A King and Queen beetle lose their home when the Rhubarb Forest is baked in a pie. An elegant gentleman bee wishes to marry the flower, Sweet Cicely. From "Garden Gossip": "I heard it from Alice Zucchini./I wonder what the neighbors will say./Max Bean said a bad word at recess,/so bad that Ms. Spinach turned gray." From vegetables and rodents to summer storms and fairy tale pumpkins, the poems are arranged in seasonal order with a table of contents.

BIG ALASKA: JOURNEY ACROSS AMERICA'S MOST AMAZING STATE
written by Debbie S. Miller, illus. by Jon Van Zyle, (Walker & Co., $17.95, ISBN 0-8027-8069-5), 40p, Ages 6-10.
Our largest and least populated state Alaska is America's last frontier. Through the eyes of its national emblem, the bald eagle, readers will view sixteen of Alaska's natural wonders and wilderness locations. Short descriptions and marvelous illustrations take readers to Admiralty Island, Tongass National Forest, Glacier Bay National Park, Prince William Sound, Matanuska River Valley, Anchorage, Kenai River, Kodiak Island, Katmai National Park, Walrus Islands Sanctuary, Yukon Kuskoquim Delta, Yukon River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Denali National Park, Iditarod Trail, and Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Endpapers contain historical information on each location along with a map of Alaska.

THE BOY WHO SAVED CLEVELAND
written by James Cross Giblin, illus. by Michael Dooling, (Henry Holt & Co., $15.95, ISBN 0-8050-7355-8), 80p, Ages 8-12.
Based on a true story, in the summer of 1798 ten-year-old Seth Doan helps the families in his small settlement stay alive during a malaria epidemic. Seth assumes responsibility for grinding and carrying corn from the mill to everyone in the three-cabin settlement. Thanks to his heroic efforts no one died, and the settlement went on to become Cleveland, Ohio, one of America's great cities. Author's note describes the real Seth Doan who grew up to become county sheriff.

THE MUSHROOM MAN
written by Ethel Pochocki, illus. by Barry Moser, (Tilbury House, $7.95, ISBN 0-88448-278-2), 32p, Ages 8-11.
"There once was a man who worked in a mushroom farm, and people called him the Mushroom Man, for he even resembled the crop he tended." Having a cheerful nature, he is, for the most part, content with his lot in life. Considering a pet for company, the Mushroom Man decides that dogs have snarling teeth, and cats are wanderers. One night he befriends a mole, and as their friendship grows, they find many common interests. In addition to truffles and Christmas gifts, they discover that having a friend is the best gift of all. A quiet, gentle story for sensitive hearts.

SHEEP
written by Valerie Hobbs, (Farrar Straus Giroux, $16.00, ISBN 0-374-36777-9), 128p, Ages 8-12.
On a California ranch, a young border collie learns to herd sheep, but after a fire destroys the ranch, he is sold to a pet store. Through a series of owners, some kind and some cruel, Jack yearns for a loving family and sheep to herd. When he saves an orphan boy's life, a bonding begins and ultimately a new family forms. Beautifully told from the dog's point of view, readers are drawn into this canine's struggle for a home, love, and his life's purpose of shepherding sheep. Parents need to be aware that a few scenes of cruelty are very graphic.

JOHN MUIR: AMERICA'S FIRST ENVIRONMENTALIST
written by Kathryn Lasky, illus. by Stan Fellows, (Candlewick Press, $16.99, ISBN 0-7636-1957-4), 48p, Ages 6-10.
Born in 1938 in Scotland, John Muir loved the land. A writer, scholar, inventor, shepherd, and explorer, he was devoted to the wilderness. From his boyhood years in Scotland, teen years in Wisconsin, adult life in Florida, and a brief account of his Alaskan adventures with his dog Stickeen, Muir went on to establish Yosemite as a National Park in 1890. Never rich or famous, John Muir was more influential in preserving America's wilderness than any other person in America's history. Final pages describe the work of the Sierra Club that John Muir founded in 1892 and a bibliography for further reading.

WINGS OF LIGHT: THE MIGRATION OF THE YELLOW BUTTERFLY
written by Stephen R. Swinburne, illus. by Bruce Hiscock, (Boyds Mills Press, $15.95, ISBN 1-59078-082-5), 32p, Ages 6+.
Cloudless Sulphur, common name of the Yellow Butterfly, begins its journey in the Yucatan rain forest and migrates across the Gulf of Mexico to the United States, as far north as New England and as far west as Yellowstone National Park. Children will follow the trail of one yellow butterfly with a notched wing as it flies tirelessly over water to the southern United States, past wild ponies in Assateague Island in Maryland, over Washington D.C., taking shelter in New York Central Park, and on to southern Vermont where it mates. Endpapers contain information on the butterflies and theories as to why some Cloudless Sulphur leave the tropics to search out other places to live.

AN EGG IS QUIET
written by Dianna Aston, illus. by Sylvia Long, (Chronicle Books, $15.95, ISBN 0-8118-4428-5), 36p, Ages 5-10.
Exquisitely illustrated, over sixteen types of eggs are introduced for children's enjoyment and education. From miniature hummingbird eggs to giant ostrich eggs, the world of embryology is presented. Information is given on the animals who laid the eggs, markings that differentiate each egg, size comparisons, and various stages of growth. Overall, a visual delight.

MARY POPPINS FROM A TO Z
written by P. L. Travers, illus. by Mary Shepard, (Harcourt, Inc., $14.00, ISBN 0-15-205834-6), 56p, Ages 8+.
Different from most alphabet books, P. L. Travers has written twenty-six vignettes around her beloved Mary Poppins, the famous Banks family, and other characters from her classic novels. Each vignette begins with a letter from the alphabet and uses an abundance of words containing that letter. For example, "D is for Dinner. Mrs. Brill, quite Distracted, Dashes in with the roast Duck and nearly Drops the Dish." Fun to listen to and read aloud. Originally published in 1962.

CHRISTOPHER MOUSE: THE TALE OF A SMALL TRAVELER
written by William Wise, illus by Patrick Benson, (Bloomsbury, $5.95, ISBN 1-58234-708-5), 160p, Ages 7-10.
Born in a pet shop, Christopher and his siblings are taught by their mother how to find a good owner, to read, and escape bad owners. Adventure-loving Christopher moves from one home to another. Using his skills, he escapes a wicked boy, a taxidermist, and an encounter with a cat in the Egyptian room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A great read-aloud.

EATS, SHOOTS & LEAVES: WHY, COMMAS REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
written by Lynne Truss, illus. by Bonnie Timmons, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, $15.99, ISBN 0-399-24491-3), 32p, Ages 7+.
It's amazing how misplaced punctuation changes the meaning of sentences, sometimes with hilarious consequences. One sentence is written on each two-page spread, but depending on the placement of a comma, the meaning is drastically altered. "Look at that huge hot dog!" versus "Look at that huge, hot dog!" One page features a delicious meal, while the other page presents a very large, uncomfortable dog. Punctuation may be a boring subject, but not from this book. Endpapers explain each sentence.

GERSHWIN'S RHAPSODY IN BLUE written by Anna Harwell Celenza, illus. by JoAnn E. Kitchel, (Charlesbridge Publishing, $19.95, ISBN 1-57091-556-3), 32p, Ages 5-9.
The year was 1924 and twenty-six year-old pianist George Gershwin had five weeks to compose a new jazz concerto. Little did he realize it would change American music forever. Gershwin experimented with rhythms from train wheels, music from a Jewish klezmer band, ragtime, blues, and the foxtrot. The masterpiece was one of several pieces performed at "An Experiment in Modern Music" concert in New York. The concert sold out, but many in the audience became restless, until "All at once, the clarinet let out a wail that made the fleeing listeners stop dead in their tracks." A CD accompanies the story featuring Gershwin at the piano.

THE BUNDLE AT BLACKTHORPE HEATH
written/illus. by Mark Copeland, (Houghton Mifflin Co., $15.00, ISBN 0-618-56302-4), 224p, Ages 8-12.
Come along a follow an extraordinary circus of humans and insects (people-size) as they travel through the British countryside entertaining, solving mysteries, exposing conspiracies, and preventing a bundle (English slang for fight) between two rival circuses. Twelve-year-old Art and his pet ladybug Rufus, Daisy (bareback beetle rider), and Jasper, a stick insect from Australia discover a dastardly plot involving two circus agents bent on destroying their circus. The insects are delightful with humanlike speech and feelings. The clever illustrations are based on an exhibition of insect circus pictures from Mayfair. The closing section contains instructions for training ants, bees, bombardiers, fleas, flies, glowworms, ladybugs, slugs, snails, wasps, woodlice, and worms.

MARY POPPINS
written by P. L. Travers, illus. by Mary Shepard, (Harcourt, Inc., $12.95, ISBN 0-15-205810-9), 224p, Ages 8+.
Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane will never be the same when a British nanny, blown in by the east wind, takes charge of the Banks children. Mary Poppins slides up banisters, banishes fear and sadness, pulls wonderful things from an old carpet bag, and introduces the Banks' children to a wide variety of interesting and colorful characters. Written in 1934, this classic, reissued along with "Mary Poppins Comes Back," "Mary Poppins in the Park," and "Mary Poppins Opens the Door" is now available for another generation and should be in every child's library.

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX: BEING THE STORY OF A MOUSE, A PRINCESS, SOME SOUP, AND A SPOOL OF THREAD
written by Kate DiCamillo, illus. by Timothy Basil Ering, (Candlewick Press, $7.99 PB, ISBN 0-7336-2529-9), 272p, Ages 7-12.
Despereaux Tilling, an exceptionally tiny, big-eared mouse is pursuing a quest–to rescue Princess Pea from the castle dungeon where she is being held by the devious rat, Roscuro. Unlike his brothers and sisters, Despereaux loves to read and befriends the princess. When he is thrown into prison by the Mouse Counsel due to his association with humans, it is Gregory the jailer, who frees little mouse, only because he enjoys Despereaux's stories. These characters and more come together in a marvelous once-upon-a-time story of hopes and dreams, guaranteed to warm and win your heart. Originally published in 2003 and now in paperback, this charming story is the winner of the Newbery Medal.

THE STORY OF THE TREASURE SEEKERS
written by E. Nesbit, illus. by Gordon Browne, Lewis Baumer, (Chronicle Books, $14.95 HC, ISBN 0-8118-5415-9, $9.95 PB, ISBN 0-8118-5416-7), 192p, Ages 8+.
Written in an era when honesty and integrity were valued and instilled in children, this classic is now available for another generation to enjoy. Having lost their mother, and with a downturn in their father's business, the six Bastable children pool their meager resources and ideas to restore the family fortune. However, often their lively and humorous good intentions go awry. From digging for treasure and publishing their own newspaper, to thwarting a pair of real bandits and becoming kidnappers themselves, the children's bravery and sense of honor shine through all their adventures. Written from the viewpoint of one of the children (readers must puzzle out which one), it is evident that they are just ordinary children, neither well behaved, nor bad, and possess a large quantity of imagination, determination, and a desire to help their family. Originally published in 1899, this was E. Nesbit's first book for children. There is an afterword by Peter Glassman on the author's life.

THE FAIRY'S RETURN AND OTHER PRINCESS TALES
written by Gail Carson Levine, illus. by Mark Elliott, (HarperCollins, $14.99, ISBN 0-06-113061-3), 288p, Ages 7-12.
Six of Levine's Princess Tales from the magical village of Snettering-on-Snoakes in the Kingdom of Biddle is now contained in one anthology. Readers/listeners will laugh at a meddlesome, but well-meaning fairy, whose spells go awry in "The Fairy's Mistake." An ordinary, but slightly allergic girl must prove she can feel a pea under twenty mattresses in "The Princess Test". A princess is endowed with too many gifts at birth from "Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep". From "Cinderellis and the Glass Hill", a young inventor tries to rescue Princess Marigold by climbing a glass hill with his "all-purpose oil-repellent extra-strength time-release on-off sticky power". Young Parsley, turned into a toad, must convince a prince to propose marriage to break the spell in "For Biddle's Sake". Last but not least, in the "The Fairy's Return", based on "The Golden Goose", a baker's son tries to win the hand of Princess Lark by making her laugh.

THE STORY OF SALT
written by Mark Kurlansky, illus. by S. D. Schindler, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, $16.99, ISBN 0-399-23998-7), 48p, Ages 7+.
Vital to human existence, salt has been a major contributor to history, science, and technology. Adapted from an adult best seller, every aspect of salt is explored. Salt built ancient Chinese dynasties and empires, preserved mummies in Egypt, became the key to trade routes, and expanded world trade. From Gandhi's famous Salt March to the sources of salt, its uses in the preservation of food, and the healing of wounds, salt truly is the rock that "shaped the history of the world". Endpapers contain a time line from 9750 B.C. to 1924 A.D.

THE RACKETTY-PACKETTY HOUSE: 100TH ANNIVERSARY ED.
written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illus. by Wendy Anderson Halperin, (Simon & Schuster, $17.95, ISBN 0-689-86974-6), 96p, Ages 8-11.
When it is pushed behind a door in a little girl's room to make way for a newer, more elaborate "Tidy Castle", the old dollhouse becomes the "Racketty-Packetty House". The occupants, Meg, Peg, Ridiklis, Kilmanskeg, Gustibus, and Peter Piper, though old and shabby dolls, remain jolly and good-natured. When they learn that humans are planning to destroy their house, it's Queen Crosspatch and her fairies who rescue the old dollhouse. This is a timeless story about making the best of every situation. As Peter Piper would say, "If you make a fuss over trouble and put it to bed and nurse it and give it beef tea and gruel, you can never get rid of it". This 100th anniversary edition is for every child who has ever owned or dreamed of owning a dollhouse.

THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ORDINARY BASIL
written /illus. by Wiley Miller, (The Blue Sky Press, $14.99, ISBN 0-439-85665-5), 128p, Ages 7-10 yrs.
Every century or so a child is born with the gift of hearing musical notes that originate from the ancient civilization of Helios, a futuristic city floating in the clouds. Living in a lighthouse in Maine in 1899, twelve-year-old Basil Pepperell longs for adventure. One day it arrives in the form of a hot air balloon outside his window. The owner, jovial Professor Angus McGookin, persuades Basil to return to Helios where he befriends a young girl and her giant flying pteranodon. Together they battle the evil Dr. Euric Von Röttwell, whose ambition in life is to dominate Helios, as well as the world. Based on historical (World War I) and mythological events (Atlantis), comic strip artist, Wiley Miller, has woven together a great little fantasy adventure for kids.

WELCOME TO THE BED & BISCUIT
written by Joan Carris, illus. by Noah Z. Jones, (Candlewick Press, $15.99, ISBN 0-7636-2151-X) 128p, Ages 6-10.
Grandpa Bender is a veterinarian and owner of a boarding kennel, the Bed & Biscuit. In addition to his borders, Grandpa owns very special animals: Gabby, the mynah bird who cleverly communicates to the outside world through bird chatter, mini-pig Ernest who holds the family together with love and compassion, and Milly, the sensitive and insecure young cat who is the youngest of the family. When Grandpa brings home a hurt puppy orphaned from a fire, the animals are surprised, but it's Milly who develops a case of jealousy and vanishes. It's up to Ernest to find his friend, mend hurt feelings, calm ruffled feathers, and reunite a family with quite different personalities. This is a sweet chapter book full of gentle humor, faithful friends, and a bit of mystery.

FIVE LITTLE PEPPERS AND HOW THEY GREW
written by Margaret Sidney, (Aladdin, $4.99, ISBN 1-4169-1617-2), 351p, Ages 9-12.
"The little old kitchen had quieted down from the bustle and confusion of midday; and now, with its afternoon manners on, presented a holiday aspect that, as the principal room in the brown house, it was eminently proper it should have." At the turn of the nineteenth century this is home to a widow and her five children who learn to cope with poverty, living near starvation, and illness with courage, devotion, and respect for their mother. Mary Pepper ekes out a meager living from sewing jobs, while her children Ben, Polly, Joel, David, and Phronsie take on adult responsibilities to keep the family together. A chance encounter with a wealthy boy and his dog changes their lives forever. Although written in 1881, this story is a charming tribute to the best in people, especially to families.

CHOCOLATE FEVER
written by Robert Kimmel Smith, illus. by Gioia Fiammenghi, (Puffin Books, $4.99, ISBN 0-14-240595-7), 93p, Ages 8+.
Henry Green learns a valuable lesson about self-indulgence when he consumes too much chocolate and comes down with Chocolate Fever. The brown spots, chocolate smell, and over-interest from doctors provoke him into running away. He meets a kind truck driver, two dangerous hijackers, and Alfred "Sugar" Cane, who possesses the cure, providing that Henry abides by the rules.

THE CHOCOLATE TOUCH
written by Patrick Skene Catling, illus. by Margot Apple, (HarperTrophy, $5.99, ISBN 0-688-16133-2), 144p, Ages 8-12.
Loosely based on the King Midas tale, a young John Midas finds that his cravings for chocolate result in hilarious circumstances. Whether pencils, utensils, gloves, food, or musical instruments, whatever goes into his mouth instantly turns to solid or liquid chocolate. Find out how an old shopkeeper teaches John the results of greed and selfishness in this funny and thought-provoking story.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
retold by Max Eilenberg, illus. by Angela Barrett, (Candlewick Press, $17.99, ISBN 0-7636-3160-4), 64p, Ages 6-10.
Timeless fairy tales such as this one make for great storytelling. Set in the nineteenth century, a brave young girl begins a journey to rescue her father from the dazzling palace of a sad and lonely monster, who is looking for release from a terrible spell. Due to her great capacity to love, Beauty frees a handsome prince from his prison as an ugly beast. "And very soon afterward they were married, and of course they lived happily ever after, for they had earned their love, and love that is earned lasts a very long time, and about that there really is no more to say." This famous story of transforming love, courage, and hope is a quite different retelling from Disney's.

THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE
written by Richard Paul Evans, illus. by Jacob Collins, (Aladdin, $7.99, ISBN 1-4169-2682-8), 32p, Ages 4-8.
On Christmas Eve a selfish young man purchases a magical candle and becomes more charitable to those less fortunate. When Thomas purchases a candle for his lantern from a mysterious old chandler, the shopkeeper warns him he may find it costly. On his way home, the young man encounters an old beggar woman, a sick man in the gutter, and a cold little girl. Thinking that they are his relatives, he helps each one; but he realizes that the candle tricked him, and they were strangers. Cold and penniless, he arrives home realizing that he is richer in the knowledge that we are all part of one family.

Return to Top