Children's Picture Books Summer Beat by Betsy Franco-Feeney Published 2007 by Margaret K. McElderry Books Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781416912378 Find this book in our catalog. Jacket Notes: The sounds of summer sizzle and pop in this bouncing, swinging read-aloud tribute to the best beats of every child's favorite season. Full color. 05/01/2007 REVIEW: School Library Journal PreS-Gr 2 -Extolling the season's pleasures, this book is packed with sensory details, perhaps too many. The rhythmic text at the top of each page accompanies the story line at the bottom. Such sounds as "bizzle-bzzz," "tha-thump," and "whoosh pumf" sound authentic, but these words dominate each page and can interfere with readers' ability to focus on the simple story of a little girl luxuriating in the many joys of summer-blowing bubbles, skateboarding, racing through the sprinkler, eating sizzling food hot off the grill, seeing July 4th fireworks, and sleeping in a tree house. Middleton's charming depiction of children and pets amid bursts of vibrant color adds to the seasonal celebration, but, despite the summer mood, Franco's plot is thin and the text too busy for traditional storytimes. As a choral reading with one group reciting all the sound words in the background, children might perform this as a summer symphony. If books with performance opportunities are needed, this one would be a worthwhile selection. Otherwise, purchase only if additional seasonal offerings are needed.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT Will You Read to Me? by Denys Cazet Published 2007 by Atheneum Books Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9781416909354 Find this book in our catalog. Jacket Notes: When you are little and you've learned to read, and you've learned to write a poem all by yourself, you'd like someone big to put his arm around you and say, "Wow! Wonderful! You "are" terrific!"Hamlet's pig family is more interested in supper than poetry. Sadly, he wanders off into the night woods with his book and his poems.And there Hamlet finds something powerfully surprising. Something good and grand and terrific. REVIEW: Publisher's Weekly 06/04/2007 This sweet-tempered book features lonely Hamlet-a pig who just doesn't fit in with the rest of his family. He wears clean tennis shoes, doesn't like mud and loves to read and write poetry. Hamlet's benighted parents not only refuse to read his new book to him, but they belittle his efforts to write poems. "It's a good thing there's not two of him," says one relative, and Hamlet's brother adds, "Twins.... Hamlet and Eggs." The slovenly, mean-spirited hogs fight through the mud to get to their fresh slops as sweet-tempered Hamlet wanders off towards the farmer's pond undaunted. When Hamlet mistakes his pond reflection for his twin, he is disappointed when the "twin" doesn't respond to the poetry he recites. But he soon finds he's had an appreciative audience all along when a multitude of woodland critters ask, "Will you read to us?" Hamlet's endearing misbuttoned shirt, floppy ears and insouciant grin help Cazet (The Perfect Pumpkin Pie) convey that this is a child-sized Everypoet rather than a priggish stick in the mud. The full-bleed watercolor and colored pencil illustrations feature the golden hues of sunset and deep greens and blues of the pastoral landscape, making it evident how nature has captured Hamlet's eye. Ages 3-6.(June) 07/01/2007 REVIEW: School Library Journal K-Gr 3- Hamlet's porcine family and neighbors share very few of his interests. While the other pigs are primarily concerned with the trough and mud, Hamlet likes to read books and write poetry. When no one in his family will listen to his latest creation, he takes off for a nearby pond. There he watches the moon rise and sits near the water's edge, working on a new poem. Eventually, he becomes aware of his "twin" looking at him from the pond and regales it with his delightful lines. At first he takes his bobbing reflection as validation, but as the night becomes darker and his twin disappears, he is disappointed by the lack of response. Just when he feels his poetry has gone unappreciated, frogs, ducks, and other woodland critters call out to him: "Will you read to us?" Sitting beneath a tree, Hamlet has the pleasure of sharing his terrific gift with others. This sweet story not only highlights the importance of following a dream but also emphasizes the power and pleasure of playing with words. Enchanting watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations show an appealing protagonist who stands out from others of his kind. Deep, twilight hues and soft edges echo the text's contemplative mood. A lovely choice for storytimes and independent reading.-Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA Together by Jane Simmons Published 2007 by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780375843396 Find this book in our catalog. Jacket Notes: From the creator of the beloved Daisy books comes a new, adorable doggie duo named Mousse and Nut, who star in a story about all the fun best friends can have--even when they are so different. Full color. 08/01/2007 REVIEW: School Library Journal PreS-K- Mousse is a big, red-orange dog who enjoys the feel of the rain on his back. Nut is a small, mostly black dog with a red umbrella. When they meet on a rainy day, their friendship is immediate, but when their differences become apparent, things begin to sour. Mousse loves to swim, while Nut does not know how. Mousse can't climb a wall like Nut does. They can't agree on anything. The story of how they become friends again will satisfy young readers. The plot is reminiscent of P. D. Eastman'sBig Dog...Little Dog (Random, 2003), but Simmons focuses more on how their differences almost end their friendship. There are no mean words or hurt feelings, but a brief separation allows them to realize how much they miss one another. The acrylic paintings are rich with saturated color, and Simmons's dogs buzz with personality. Children will feel comforted by the boisterous pups and their antics together.-Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ Purplicious by Elizabeth Kann Published 2007 by HarperCollins Hardcover, English. ISBN: 9780061244056 Find this book in our catalog. Jacket Notes: In this colorful follow-up to their bestselling "Pinkalicious," sisters Elizabeth and Victoria Kann deliver the vibrantly hued story of a young girl who remains true to herself and discovers that pink isnt only a pretty color--its also a powerful one. 03/01/2008 REVIEW: School Library Journal K-Gr 2-Pinkalicious, the insouciant little girl who loves pink (especially Pink Passion Fruit Paradise ice cream) is back and in trouble. The girls in her class tease her that pink is passé and babyish, and that black is the new in color. Although her family tries to cheer her up, Pinkalicious almost abandons her favorite color until a new girl in her art class helps her see that pink is powerful and perfect-particularly when mixed with blue to make purple. The lively cartoon illustrations spill across the pages mirroring the protagonist's feelings as she changes from a confident, imaginative child to a sad one who believes she is alone in the world and then back to her old spirited self, fortified by a new friend and a newly discovered color. As with Pinkalicious (HarperCollins, 2006), this story will be fun to use in a color unit and has the added attraction of dealing with feelings of not fitting in, which are common in a child's life. The book is a winner for most collections.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Updated 4/15/08