Too Many Toys
by David Shannon
Published 2008 by Blue Sky Press (AZ)

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780439490290

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Jacket Notes:

Spencer has too many toys and the house is overflowing with junk. Now it's time to give some of the mountain of goodies away, but Spencer finds it hard. A Caldecott Honor illustrator presents an irresistibly funny look at a familiar problem.

Publishers Weekly 09/01/2008

Even the most unreasonable child will concede that Spencer, Shannon's young hero, has too much of a good thing. But what's a kid to do? The toys just keep coming: from well-wishers, from birthday party hosts, from fast food joints, even from school, where they're rewards for having lots of Peace Person Points. When his exasperated mother decides to cull the herd, Spencer's not-so-delicate negotiations give Shannon ("No, David!") plenty of opportunity to display his flair for kid-friendly expressionism and domestic satire (one of the most annoying toys turns out to belong to dad). But what will ultimately keep kids glued to the page is the sheer breadth and depth of the overflowing inventory. Toys 'R' Spencer is a sight to behold, encompassing the tried-and-true (teddy bears, dump trucks), the spoof (a miniature "Titanic") and the flat-out weird (a poultry monstrosity with Alfred E. Newman ears and a propeller head). Warning: do not administer to kids close to Christmas. Ages 48. "(Oct.)" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

01/01/2009 School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2In many ways Spencer's situation epitomizes every child's fantasy-he has a toy collection that rivals a major toy store in depth and breadth. Simply cataloging the different types takes many engaging pages overflowing with brightly colored playthings. The problem is that the sheer number of toys has created multiple hazards. Tired of dodging disasters and sidestepping landslides, Spencer's mom decides that enough is enough and begins negotiating the downsizing of inventory. Savvy Spencer turns on the big sad eyes in order to protect his favorites. Mom's troubles do not stop there; the toy debate is weighted in the boy's favor by the constant deluge of gifts from friends and family. After sorting through the entire collection, he and his mother come up with a box of items to give awayonly to find that the toy he refuses to part with is the box. A master at capturing the workings of a young mind, Shannon combines realistic dialogue with his boisterous illustrations to create another surefire hit. This book provides a pertinent and appealing read."Piper Nyman, Brookmeade Elementary School, Nashville, TN" Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
by Doreen Rappaport
Published 2008 by Hyperion Books for Children

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781423104087

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Jacket Notes:

Told in accessible, absorbing prose, and brought to life in powerful illustrations, this powerful portrait of a great American president shines a light on the passion for humanity that defined Lincoln's life. Full color.

From the time he was a young boy roaming the forests of the unsettled Midwest, Abraham Lincoln knew in his heart that slavery was deeply wrong. A voracious reader, Lincoln spent every spare moment of his days filling his mind with knowledge, from history to literature to mathematics, preparing himself to one day lead the country he loved towards greater equality and prosperity.

Despite the obstacles he faced as a self-educated man from the back woods, Lincoln persevered in his political career, and his compassion and honesty gradually earned him the trust of many Americans. As president, he guided the nation through a long and bitter civil war and penned the document that would lead to the end of slavery in the United States.

The passion for humanity that defined Lincoln's life shines through in this momentous follow-up to "Martin's Big Words" and "John's Secret Dreams." Told in Doreen Rappaport's accessible, absorbing prose, and brought to life in powerful illustrations by Kadir Nelson, "Abe's Honest Words" is an epic portrait of a truly great American president.

10/01/2008 School Library Journal

Gr 36Written in prose as elegant and spare as that of its subject, this distinguished book takes readers from Abe's backwoods boyhood in Kentucky to his first harrowing witnessing of slavery in New Orleans, on to the Illinois legislature and the presidency. Each half-page of generously spaced text appears against a white background. Rappaport's carefully chosen words are both accessible and effective: "The war dragged on./Lincoln grew sadder and sadder/as more men died." Until, "The South finally surrendered./The job of healing the nation began./But Lincoln was not there to help./An assassin's bullet ended his life." Corresponding quotes from Lincoln appear in italics, e.g., ""The moment came when I felt that slavery must die that the nation might live!"" Handsome, larger-than-life paintings fill the remaining page and a half of each spread with powerful imagesof Abe as a strong, lanky youth with a book or oar in hand, then later as a lawyer with unkempt hair, feather pen, and midnight candles burning. Readers see the somber, resigned faces of slavesyoung and oldfirst in chains, then picking cotton under a blazing sun, and later the proud faces of an all-black regiment of the Union Army. From Lincoln's striking countenance on the coverscruffy dark hair tinged with gray, big ears, bright eyes, and benevolent face, lined with worry and ageto the end, this is one Lincoln book that all libraries will want to have."Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Last Night
by Hyewon Yum
Published 2008 by Farrar Straus Giroux

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780374343583

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Jacket Notes:

A little girl doesn't like her dinner and is sent to her room. She seeks comfort from her friend Bear and falls asleep. So begins a fantastic dream voyage deep into the forest, where the girl and her friend dance and play all night. And in the morning, mother and child make up. With brilliant linocut illustrations and not a single word to break the spell, this picture book marks an impressive American debut for Hyewon Yum.

Publishers Weekly 09/01/2008

In stunning linoleum block prints, debut artist Yum imagines a little girl who dreams of a night in the forest with her teddy bear. Pleasure and anxiety intertwine through the wordless spreads; the prints are like a diary in which Yum records everything the girl feels. Rough-cut figures are backlit with eerie pinks and yellows. Full-bleed spreads give the sense that there's nowhere to hide. Hunched in a corner, addressed by a mother represented only by her looming shadow, the girl is sent to bed for not finishing her dinner. As she sleeps, her teddy bear grows huge and awakens her. After a moment's doubt, she follows him into the woods, where, in a series of joyful double-page spreads, they cavort with two foxes, and the bear feasts on fish. Soon, though, the girl longs for home. An owl startles her in the dark. Instead of cuddling up to her furry companion, she lies awake in the forest until morning finds her back in her bed and eager for a hug from her mother. Some picture books are written for children; this one gives a sense of what it's like to be one. Ages 36. "(Oct.)" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

09/01/2008 School Library Journal

K-Gr 3In this wordless picture book, an unhappy child sits at a table holding a fork over a plate of food. She obviously isn't excited about her supper and is sent to her room. After she goes to sleep, her stuffed bear awakens her and takes her on a walk. They meet up with some wild animals and play until finally the bear falls asleep and the girl lies down close to him. The next morning, she looks at her stuffed bear still sprawled on his back, and then walks downstairs and hugs her mom. Yum's evocative linocut illustrations offer ample context for a child to imagine what the little girl is feeling, and how her mood changes over the course of the night. White, pink, and yellow tones blend and contrast in her face to sometimes resemble a mask. Not all children will fully appreciate the indistinct look of the pictures; however, their sweet poignancy is palpable. Many adults will view this book as a useful tool to encourage children to explore and cope effectively with feelings of anger as they compose their own explanations for the series of events so vividly represented in this eloquent book."Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Carl's Summer Vacation
by Alexandra Day
Published 2008 by Farrar Straus Giroux

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780374310851

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Jacket Notes:

Carl and Madeleine are supposed to be napping while Mom and Dad get the summer cabin ready for company, but this lovable canine and his charge have better things to do. They escape from the hammock to do some canoeing, pick blackberries, and enjoy a picnic. Carl even plays a little baseball! That night, Mom and Dad wonder why the two are so tired - little do they know that Carl and Madeleine have been busy exploring all that a summer vacation on the lake has to offer.Told mainly through Alexandra Day's gorgeous oil paintings, this summertime romp will make readers long to bring Carl along on their own vacations!

05/01/2008 School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2Young Madeleine and her loyal pup, Carl, are up to their same tricks in this charming addition to a whimsical series. Mom and Dad are busy preparing the summer cabin for company later in the evening, and they leave the pair in a hammock on the back porch. Immediately upon hearing Mom say, "You two have a good nap so you'll be ready to go see the fireworks tonight," Carl and his devoted sidekick decide to go exploring. It is here that the text stops, for the most part. Richly detailed and beautifully hued illustrations depict the duo's adventures: a canoe ride that includes a stop by a flowering lily pad; a romp through wild blackberry bushes where they come upon a highly protective mama skunk; a stop at the playground where Carl joins a baseball game, and more. They return to the hammock just in time to be "awakened" by Mom. Madeleine falls asleep in her father's arms during the vibrantly depicted fireworks show, leaving her parents to wonder why she was so tired after having had such a long nap. A strong, solid addition."Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

The Little Bit Scary People
by Emily Jenkins
Published 2008 by Hyperion Books for Children

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781423100751

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Jacket Notes:

Imagination and empathy help a young girl overcome her fears of some scary people in her neighborhood, in this new picture book by the author of the ALA Notable Book "Toys Go Out." Full color. Some people are a little bit STRANGE or a little too LOUD, and justa little bit SCARY.But I bet, if you knew them, and knew their favorite things, you'd think that maybe, (probably) most people aren't so scary after all.

Publishers Weekly 08/04/2008

Jenkins ("Toys Go Out") and Boiger ("While Mama Had a Quick Little Chat") offer a way to assuage worried children in this smart and sympathetic book. First to be described as a little bit scary is the boy with thick eyebrows [who] rides his skateboard on the sidewalk and cranks the radio so loud, my dad yells out the window for him to turn it down. Boiger endows him with a Mohawk and studded leather boots; the bottom of his skateboard has a skull on it. Turn the page, however, and the narrator envisions an entirely different scenario: I bet when he wakes up in the morning, he kisses his cat on the head and scratches her neck until she purrs. The redheaded heroine sits atop a dresser in this imaginary bedroom, which houses the would-be miscreant's scary regalia along with a pair of slippers just like the narrator's own. Continuing her rogues' gallery, the girl ends by imagining how her own family members might appear scary to others. Funny and wise. Ages 36. "(Sept.)" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

09/01/2008 School Library Journal

K-Gr 3A shy girl confronts her fear of the many individuals who make her uncomfortable; for example: the school lunch woman who demands that each child take just one milk, the punked-out skateboarder with a loud boom box, and the school principal whose imposing figure looms large in the hallway. On one page, the child is depicted in a situation with the person who makes her apprehensive (such as the school nurse who is "a little bit scary"); but the flip of a page shows the youngster using her imagination, recasting the individual in a homey or less-threatening environment. She begins using the expression, "But I bet]" to imagine the nurse making music with his children, the principal dancing with her boyfriend, and the skateboarder who "kisses his cat on the head and scratches her neck until she purrs]." This could be a terrific book to begin a discussion about identity and forming opinions about others. It also offers students a way to feel empowered as they meet the demands of widening their world. Although most of the cartoonlike illustrations are lovely, one is an unfortunate disappointment: it depicts a black male with exaggerated facial features. Since proper racial representation is critical for children, the picture sadly mars this offering."Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

It's Time to Sleep, My Love
by Eric Metaxas
Published 2008 by Feiwel & Friends

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780312383718

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Jacket Notes:

A lyrical lullaby for family sharing, gorgeously illustrated by "New York Times"-bestselling artist Tillman. It's time to sleep, it's time to sleep, the fishes croon in waters deep.The songbirds sing in trees above, "It's time to sleep, my love, my love."As children prepare for bed, the world around them is also settling down for the night. Animals who live in the jungle, the forest, the sea--all whisper to their babies a soft refrain: It's time to sleep, my love.As comforting as a soft blanket and warm as a goodnight hug, Eric Metaxas's lullaby is lovingly brought to life by bestselling artist Nancy Tillman "(On the Night You Were Born)," whose illustrations celebrate the wonders of the natural world, and the bonds of family.

12/01/2008 School Library Journal

PreS-KBeyond the soothing titular refrain repeated throughout, troubles cripple this ode to bedtime ritual. Without strict stylistic technique, the verse is unnecessarily redundant, and cumbersome phrases such as "And as you dream inside your sleep" will trip up readers. Adults will surely have to explain the lines "Your dreams will be arriving soon./They'll float to you/in sleep's balloon./They'll be here when I snuff the wick, /you'd better close your eyelids quick." The book's design clearly favors Tillman's richly hued digital and mixed-media composite paintings over the text. Though fans of Tillman's "On the Night You Were Born" (Feiwel & Friends, 2006) will likely gravitate to this title, general readers will do better to look to other books for their evening routine."Bethany Isaacson, Wheaton Regional Library, Silver Spring, MD" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

You Can't Go to School Naked!
by Dianne Billstrom
Published 2008 by Putnam Publishing Group

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780399247385

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Jacket Notes:

A guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Lots of kids like to run around naked and hereas a funny book to remind them why itas best to keep their clothes on, particularly at school. Just think about itacould you go down the slide? Steal second base? This little guyas parents warn him of many dangers head face if he went to school without clothes on, and eventually he sees their point. But if he has to wear something, itas going to be what he chooses (and itas only slightly better than going naked). Kids will giggle and squirm at the silly scenarios this little guy imagines and cheer his unique solution.

07/01/2008 School Library Journal

K-Gr 2When the unnamed protagonist refuses to wear clothes because he doesn't like them, his parents spend the rest of the story trying to convince him why he needs them. Unpleasant but hilarious scenarios ensue describing what would happen if he went nudeno pockets for stuff, freezing in winter, the pain of stealing second base, etc. After considering all the arguments, the boy decides that if he must wear something, then he'll choose his own outfit, and off he goes dressed as a superhero, cape and all. This fun-to-read story is written in rhyming couplets. "If you went to school naked when the sun's overhead, /you would get a sunburn and turn very RED!/You might be confused with a big red tomato, /stewed in a pot with a russet potato!" The illustrations aptly depict each consequence, and the characters' expressions bring them to life. The pictures have a vaguely 1950s cartoon sensibility both in style and color choice, which works well with the text. This one's great for storytime or one-on-one sharing. Just be prepared for gales of laughter."Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

There's No Such Thing as Ghosts!
by Emmanuelle Eeckhout
Published 2008 by Kane/Miller Book Publishers

Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781933605913

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Jacket Notes:

Bold illustrations and silhouettes add an old-fashioned flair to this family-friendly ghost story. Readers will be tempted to point out the side story in this engaging tale, but the young hero, along with his trusty butterfly net, just doesn't seem to see what readers see, which only adds to the fun! Full color. When we moved to our new neighborhood, I had to promise my mother that I wouldn't go near the strange old house on the corner. "People say it's haunted," she whispered. Haunted? There's no such thing as ghosts! But if there is, I'm going to catch one! Bold, three-color illustrations and silhouettes add an old-fashioned flair to this family-friendly ghost story. The reader/listener will be tempted to point out the side story in this engaging tale, but our hero, along with his trusty butterfly net, just doesn't seem to see what we see, which only adds to the fun!

11/01/2008 School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1Eager to explore a neighborhood haunted house, a diminutive boy grabs his butterfly net and sets out to catch a ghost. He creeps from room to room, peeking in every prime hiding spot, but can't find any spirits. However, the joke is that readers see the adorable, playful spirits that cavort, tease, and go about their ghostly business, invisible to the boy. Through a simple palette of black, white, yellow, and pink, Eeckhout uses plenty of white space, full spreads, silhouettes, and small vignettes to great advantage. Suitable for one-on-one sharing or as an early reader, this simple tale will find a welcome place in collections, not only for Halloween, but also year-round."Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI" Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.