Fireboat

Maira Kalman (Illustrator). Puffin 2005, Paperback, 48 pages, $3.74

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This outstanding picture book tells the true story of the John J. Harvey, the retired fireboat, rehabilitated by hobbyists, which was called back into service during the terrible crisis of September 11, 2001.  The careful, well-written text gives the reader a sense of the boat’s own history as a traditional fireboat and then a hobbyist’s project.  Then she sensitively introduces September 11’s events, explaining how the Harvey’s civilian crew volunteered for service when New York’s damaged water lines were unable to supply enough water to fight fires.  Kalman wisely avoids any discussion of the reasons behind September 11, leaving interpretation for parents and teachers who will be better able to contextualize these events for their own children.

The book is pleasantly illustrated in a slightly abstract style which is a very good choice for events as dramatic and potentially painful as these.  Rather than being a grief-filled lament, this book emphasizes courage, concern for others and a warm sense of American identity.  It is an excellent introduction to the topic of September 11, and the parent or teacher who presents it should be prepared for the inevitable questions that will follow its reading.

City by Numbers

Stephen T. Johnson (Illustrator). Puffin 2003, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.52

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

City by Numbers is another volume in the spirit of Alphabet City.  Conceived at the same time as a natural outgrowth of the alphabet book (which won a Caldecott Honor in 1996), this is an excellent companion to it.  It’s also an excellent choice both for prereaders, aspiring artists, or just those who enjoy a chance to see the world from a new perspective.

Alphabet City

Stephen T. Johnson (Illustrator). Puffin 1999, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.00

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Artistic alphabet books have become very common, but this original work is quite out of the ordinary.  Stephen Johnson has captured alphabet shapes in ordinary places around a bustling city: an I in an old neon sign, an N in the iron supports of a bridge, an O in the circled armrests of a park bench.  These are reproduced in paintings that are so realistic that at first glance they might be taken for photographs.

This book will provide enjoyment both for pre-readers practicing their alphabet, and older readers who are interested in seeing the world in a different way.  It’s an excellent addition to a home library.

Sod Houses on the Great Plains

Glen Rounds. Holiday House 1995, Hardcover, 1 pages, $97.33

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Glen Rounds summarizes, simply and clearly, how the sod house on the Great Plains came to be. With succint and vivid detail, he describes the introduction of sod as a building material, and gives the reader a feel for how it might have felt to live in such a building. This book is illustrated in his whimsical, somewhat abstract style which is sometimes reminiscent of cave drawings. This makes an excellent (and unromantic) complement to Dandelions and could be a precursor to On the Banks of Plum Creek. It is unfortunately out of print, but is available in public libraries and on the used book market.

A Day’s Work

Ronald Himler (Illustrator). Sandpiper 1997, Paperback, 32 pages, $3.11

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

On Saturday morning, young Francisco waits with his abuelo (grandfather) with other day laborers, hoping for a day’s work.  In order to persuade a potential employer to choose them, Francisco claims his grandfather is a gardener, even though he is actually a carpenter.  It is only at the end of the day that the lie is found out.  Then Abuelo shows Francisco the value of integrity, admonishing, “We do not lie for work,” and taking steps to make restitution.

Bunting’s understated text, written from the child’s perspective, expresses the raw desperation that the most poverty-stricken people experience daily, helping the reader understand why Francisco would tell such a lie.  But his grandfather’s personal honor proves that, regardless of circumstances, even the lowest labor carries dignity and worth when it is carried out with self-respect.

This is a serious story, and even illustrated with Himler’s wonderful paintings it retains a somber mood that might not draw readers in as easily as more lighthearted books.  But it provides a vital, sympathetic glimpse into the world of immigrant day laborers while demonstrating the moral importance of honesty.  It’s a beautifully moving book which will help cultivate compassion for others.

The Matchlock Gun

Walter D. Edmonds. Putnam Juvenile 1998, Paperback, 80 pages, $1.98

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Teunis and Gertrude Van Alstyne are Dutch homesteaders caught in the middle of the French and Indian War, and one night Teunis is called away to fight.  He leaves Gertrude, ten-year-old Edward, and six-year-old Trudy alone in their cabin, admonishing her to go to his mother’s house if Indians come their way.  But when Teunis sends word that Indians are coming, Gertrude decides to stay in the cabin out of dislike for her mother-in-law.  Although she rationalizes the decision by telling herself their enemies will leave them alone, she realizes too late that she and Edward must defend themselves.  The only weapon in the home is an antique matchlock gun, used as decoration above the door.

Throughout the text, Gertrude responds to fearful circumstances with calm fortitude, thinking through their plan and carrying out her role in it — but it is Edward on whom she depends to take the action that will save their lives.  There are few stories in which a child is given such an important and difficult task, and his courage and responsibility are awe-inspiring.

This true story starts out slowly, but steadily builds to reach a tremendous climax.  It is splendidly written, and illustrated with lithographic drawings that are impressive given technological limitations at the time of publication.  It is a good read-aloud for pre-readers, but because of the suspenseful nature of the story, sensitive children may need to wait until they are a little older to engage the story without being frightened.

Gobble Growl Grunt

Peter Spier. Scholastic 1973, Paperback, $0.84

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is another unusual book like Crash! Bang! Boom!, but this time devoted to animal sounds.  From humpback elephants (“taa-taaah”) to dolphins (“ih-ih-ih-ih”), rattlesnakes (“ticka-ticka-tick”) to rats (“squeal”), each animal is wonderfully rendered in Spier’s inimitable style — then labeled, and given a sound to make in concert with about 15-30 others on each two-page spread.

This is a good book for early readers, who will benefit from the enjoyable phonetic practice of sounding out the animal noises.  Confident readers may enjoy it even more, especially if they can share the experience with friends who enjoy imitating animals.  Pre-readers will enjoy having it read aloud and may have fun imitating the animals, but parents should be forewarned that it can be rather tiring to read aloud.

The book is unfortunately out of print, but is available on the used market.

Crash! Bang! Boom!

Peter Spier. Doubleday 1972, Hardcover, $11.95

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Crash! Bang! Boom! is an unusual picture book which, rather than telling a story, provides an auditory and visual experience of the world.  Each two-page spread contains about twenty actions which are related to one another in some way, with a written-out sound effect — a boiling coffeepot sounding “glub-blub-glubglub” and then being poured, “luck-luck-luck,” a chain-saw sounding “rrrooaarrrrr” and an axe hitting a thumb with a “thack.”

The book is characterized by Spier’s lively, intricately detailed drawings and has a very appealing mood.  It ought to provide wonderful phonetic practice for beginning readers, and will also be enjoyable for confident readers.  Preschoolers will enjoy having it read to them, but adults may find it wearying to read aloud, so I recommend it primarily for self-reading.

Like many of Spier’s wonderful books, this one is out of print, but is available on the used market.

Curious George Flies a Kite (Curious George – Level 1)

H. A. Rey. HMH Books 1977, Paperback, 80 pages, $1.13

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

This is another of the Reys’ wonderful Curious George series.  In this story, George goes from one adventure to another — losing and finding a baby bunny, learning how to fish, and naughtily flying a kite until he flies high above the town, only to be rescued by the Man with the Yellow Hat.  George has delighted children for generations, and this makes for an enjoyable read.  Unlike the later knock-off George series, this story is characterized by the Reys’ carefully crafted writing and wonderful classic illustrations.  It is appropriate for beginning readers.

Tut, Tut #6 (Time Warp Trio)

Lane Smith (Illustrator). Puffin 2004, Paperback, 80 pages, $0.95

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Candy caramels are made with nutritious ingredients mixed with equal parts sugar.  They are tasty, enjoyable, and have virtually no nutritional value.  They are very like this pleasantly written, irreverent and forgettable time-travel story, part of a longer series by the same author.  In Tut Tut, three friends are accidentally whisked into the time of ancient Egypt by a pesky younger sister, who is befriended by the goddess Isis.  They, in turn, impress the boy-pharaoh with their sneakers and basketball skills, with a little additional help from scientific tricks that they pass off as magic.

Amidst the lighthearted, fast-moving plot the author mixes in quite a bit of trivia about ancient Egyptian culture, with quite a bit of juvenile humor but without any real sense of the cultural gravity of that great society.  This is a fairly unobjectionable library read.  While its accessibility makes it a good choice for a reluctant reader, I don’t recommend it as part of a permanent home library.