All Things Wise and Wonderful

James Herriot. St. Martin’s Griffin 2004, Paperback, 448 pages, $8.89

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This edition of James Herriot’s memoirs sees him being drafted into the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force to play his part during World War II, leaving behind his veterinary practice and his wife (now expecting young Jimmy).  Although he never sees combat, his description of military training gives an inside view to the training process for pilots in the war, interspersed with plentiful reminiscences of his veterinary practice back in Darrowby.  Throughout this story is a sweet marital love, which colors his every experience, and the warm, wry wit that characterizes his writing is just as splendid as ever.

As in his other books, there are a few examples of coarse language, and there is one scene with a friend engaged in amorous embrace on a sofa (soon to be broken up spectacularly).  But in general, the book is refreshingly wholesome, although occasionally gross, given the duties of a country veterinarian.  Its language is somewhat advanced, and it may be best enjoyed by older teenagers.

The Matchlock Gun

Walter D. Edmonds. Putnam Juvenile 1998, Paperback, 80 pages, $2.97

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.

The Indian in the Cupboard

Lynne Reid Banks. Yearling 2010, Paperback, 240 pages, $3.61

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

When Omri, a young English boy, puts a toy Indian in a medicine cabinet and turns a special key, the Indian magically comes to life.  But the Indian is not merely a toy come to life, but a real person with a history who has been transported into Omri’s time, in miniature form.  Complications arise when Omri’s thoughtless friend puts his toy cowboy in the cupboard to see if they will fight.  The two boys then endanger the small people by taking them to school.

Unlike other fantasies which create an entire magical world, the cupboard is the only magical element in this story.  Because of its grounding in the everyday, this fantasy has a particular charm, as readers might imagine stumbling across just this kind of magic in their own world.  Omri and his friend are ordinary children, and Omri must struggle with having taken on so much responsibility for other human beings.  In the end he realizes it isn’t his place to have such power over their lives, and he uses the cupboard to send them back to their own time.

As a Native American person, I am reflexively suspicious of fiction about Indians, especially in this genre, because it is easy for non-Indians to caricature people whose culture they can’t really identify with.  But while Banks’ development of the Indian’s character might be a little thin, it’s no thinner than that of other characters.  Banks provides enough history of the Five Civilized Tribes, and their role in the French and Indian Wars to demonstrate Little Bull’s humanity, and it is on this basis that Omri comes to respect him.  This is an entertaining, appealing story, in which an immature young man learns to take responsibility and show respect for others.

There are two abysmal sequels available, but I recommend only the original story.

The Trumpet of the Swan (full color)

Fred Marcellino (Illustrator). HarperCollins 2001, Paperback, 272 pages, $5.00

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Louis, a trumpeter swan, was hatched without a voice and so is unable to win a mate, even though with the help of his human friend Sam, he has learned to read and write.  Out of paternal love, Louis’ father breaks into a music store and steals a trumpet for Louis to use in courtship of the beautiful Serena.  But Louis is too honorable to simply accept the stolen instrument — he learns to play it, then hires out his musical ability until he can pay back the store owner.  Throughout his adventures are woven adventure, romance, absurdity, and White’s perceptive view of human nature.

The Trumpet of the Swan is an exceptionally creative work, reminiscent in different ways of Make Way for Ducklings, Charlotte’s Web, and Homer Price, but unique unto itself.  The reader will finish the book not only having had a good time, but appreciating the value of love and music, work and family, as well as knowing a little more about the habits of trumpeter swans.  It’s an outstanding choice for a read-aloud.

Now One Foot, Now the Other

Tomie dePaola (Illustrator). Puffin 2006, Paperback, 48 pages, $3.78

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Bobby has grown into mastery of basic motor skills under the loving supervision of his grandfather, affectionately named Bob. But one day he is terrified when Bob suffers a stroke and is fully paralyzed.  Everyone thinks Bob is unable to understand what is happening around him, but Bobby insists that his grandfather is responding to him.  Slowly and persistently,  he helps Bob regain motor control, leading him through all the same exercises that Bob used to help him gain coordination as a young child until he is able to communicate and get around under his own power.

The story is simply, carefully told so that young children can understand it, but all readers will grasp the profound implications of Bob’s disability.  Bobby (who is not a perfect child) models what it means to take care of others — even those who may have always taken the helping role toward him.  While sometimes frightening, the story’s drama may help young children come to terms with the limitations of people in their lives and teaches them that they can have an important helping role.  In the midst of fear and weakness, this picture of tender intergenerational love is very beautiful.

The Little Riders

Peter Spier (Illustrator). HarperCollins 1993, Paperback, 80 pages, $3.67

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Johanna, a young Dutch-American girl, is visiting her grandparents in Holland when World War II breaks out and Holland is invaded by the Germans.  To her dismay, the Nazis appropriate her bedroom to be the living quarters of one of their officers.  This not only produces inconvenience for the girl, but also endangers her grandparents who are leaders in the resistance movement.  She takes consolation in watching the village’s treasured Little Riders, iron figures of noblemen commemorating the Crusades, which make their circuit in the church steeple as the great clock strikes the hours.  When the Nazis announce their intention to melt the Little Riders down for ammunition, Johanna joins the movement to keep the statues out of the Nazis’ hands.  When plans to smuggle them out of town go wrong, Johanna is left alone with them and she heroically implements a desperate solution.  The story ends with a surprise which underscores the humanity of all people who participated in this war.

This riveting story gently introduces the pain and evil involved in World War II, without going into graphic detail about the horrors of the war.  Johanna’s courage and loyalty are very admirable, and they seem to grow naturally in the context of her family’s values of love and courtesy.  The book is written at a transitional reader’s level and (unlike most war stories) is appropriate for precocious pre-readers.

The Gardener (Sunburst Books)

David Small (Illustrator). Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) 2000, Paperback, 40 pages, $2.50

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Great Depression in America was a time of uncertainty and difficulty for many Americans, but its trials also provided opportunities for courage and hope.  In this story, Lydia Grace has been invited to stay with her dour uncle while her father looks for work.  Uncle Jim is a baker, and Lydia Grace happily learns what she can about baking while working to bring beauty into her uncle’s life by planting beautiful flowers in his window boxes and cultivating an elaborate surprise to delight him.

The story is told by means of Lydia Grace’s cheerful letter home, giving the reader an unusual means of following a story line.  Her letters are inset into David Small’s evocative, understated drawings, which reflect the mood and architecture of the period.  In one striking scene, Lydia Grace’s figure is dwarfed by the shadowed train station, evoking her uncertain future.  Her bright blue dress, inherited from her mother, is the only point of color in the picture.  This image presages the rest of the story, as it is her indomitable courage that eventually brings joy into her uncle’s life.

Lydia Grace’s courage and love overflow in her care of plants and flowers, which bring beauty to her uncle’s life.  With its emphasis on family, beauty, courage and hope, this story is a wonderful way to introduce the Great Depression to young readers.

Sugaring

Jos. A. Smith (Illustrator). Greenwillow Books 1996, Hardcover, 24 pages, $6.99

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Nora and her grandfather, with the help of two horses, tap the maple trees on their Vermont farm and boil the sap into syrup.  At one point Gramp leaves Nora alone, and she adds a drop of cream when the syrup boils up, preventing it from boiling out of the pan.  She also takes initiative to share sap and syrup with the horses.

The family members are dressed in modern clothes, but their practice is an old one, as is their equipment.  Haas’ writing is excellent, and Smith’s evocative watercolor paintings vividly render the crisp outdoor cold, which contrasts with the steamy indoor warmth in the boiling shed.  Nora’s generosity toward the horses is reminiscent of biblical admonitions for people to care for their animals that serve them (Deuteronomy 25:4; Proverbs 12:10).  The relational bond between grandparents and grandchild is nearly tangible, and Nora’s participation in this exciting grown-up work is an excellent example of the privileges that come with responsibility.  This is an excellent story for helping children understand how maple syrup is made.

Dogger Storybook and CD

Kevin Whately (Reader). Red Fox 2009, Paperback, 32 pages, $6.47

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Dave’s favorite toy is a stuffed toy named Dogger.  He carries him everywhere and depends on him to help him go to sleep.  One morning, while out with his mother, meeting his older sister Bella at school, Dogger disappears.  When bedtime comes, Dogger is nowhere to be found, and although Bella loans him one of her teddies, he is very sad during the night.  In the morning at the school fair, Dave is too sad to have fun, and he wanders off from the rest of his family.  At one of the used-toy stands he is shocked to see Dogger for sale.  He runs to find his parents, but finds only Bella, who returns to the stand with him just in time to see another child walk away with Dogger.  Bella saves the day, trading her new teddy bear for the worn old Dogger.

This well-written story begins with concrete details and builds to a dramatic crisis and resolution that any child who’s had a “lovey” can identify with.  Hughes’ artwork is wonderfully rendered, with a particular eye to details that emphasize the warmth and closeness of this family.  Most importantly, Bella’s open-hearted self-sacrifice epitomizes the kindness that siblings ought to express toward one another.  Elder and younger siblings will appreciate this story for different reasons.

Yonie Wondernose/Out of Print

Marguerite De Angeli. Herald Pr 1997, Paperback, 48 pages, $14.99

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Yonie (short for Jonathan) is a seven-year-old Pennsylvania Dutch boy whose curiousity and distractability  earns him the name “Yonie Wondernose.”  One day his parents leave him with his sister and grandmother to care for the farm overnight, and Yonie strives to prove that he is worthy of the responsibility entrusted to him.  That night a fire breaks out in the barn, and he and his grandmother must rescue the animals (the family’s livelihood) from the flames.  Throughout the adventure, Yonie strives to earn the reward his father has promised him”when he is old enough to be trusted like a man.”

This story deservedly won a Caldecott Honor in 1945 for its excellent writing and fine storyline.  de Angeli does a fine job capturing the exuberant immaturity of this likable child, drawing an appealing picture of a young person striving to overcome childish impulses and earn respect.  It is especially wonderful that the prized reward has to do with his desire to attain to manhood:  rather than seeking to gratify his immature desires, Yonie aspires to the respect and honor that is only given to the mature.  His father’s quiet pride and understated affirmation, following his near-heroic efforts to rescue the animals, are a prize worth gaining.

De Angeli captures a little of the flavor of Pennsylvania Dutch language along with many details of everyday life.  Her characters are appealing, the family is warmly loving, and the story itself is full of excitement and danger.  It will appeal to both boys and girls, but especially boys.  It contains more prose than most picture books and is a perfect fit for children who are just transitioning into chapter books.