Dave's List for Children

by
David V. Loertscher

Here are listed brief comments on books and other materials sent by publishers to David Loertscher, most recent titles first. Each title listed is a pick of the litter - way above the average. It's tough to get on Dave's List. All are highly recommended!

Everybody Books (for all ages)

• Root, Phyllis. What Baby Wants. Illustrated by Jill Barton. Candelwick Press, 1998 ISBN: 0763602078. Everyone is trying to get baby to sleep with the most creative techniques! Fun, Fun, Fun.

• Weitzman, Jacqueline Preiss and Robin Preiss Glasser. You Can't Take a Balloon Into The Metropolitan Museum. Dial, 1988. ISBN 0803723016. Highest praise for this marvelous wordless picture book! Unique! Take my word for it. All ages.

• Scieszka and Lane Smith. Squids Will be Squids: Fresh Morals; Beastly Fables. Voiking, 1998. ISBN: 067088135x. Aesop for the modern age with Scieszka antics! Don't pass this one up!

Pre School-K Books

Simple Picture Books

• Suen, Anastasia. Window Music. Illustrated by Wade Zahares. Viking, 1998. ISBN: 0670872873. Vivid pictures and singing words follow an old-fashion train through many adventures.

• Waite, Judy. Mouse, Look Out! Illustrated by Norma Burgin. Dutton, 1998 ISBN: 0525420312. Beautiful illustrations and brief text follow a mouse and its enemy the cat through an old abandoned house.

• Shannon, David. No, David! The Blue Sky Press (Scholastic), 1998. ISBN 0590930028. David's mother is always telling him NO! right up until the final hug.

• Blackstone, Stella. Can You See the Red Balloon? Illustrated by Debbie Harter. Orchard Books, 1998. ISBN 0531300773. Colorful puzzle pages are presented with something to find in the mazes. Identify things and colors.

• Shields, Carol Diggory. Month by Month a Year Goes Round. Illustrated by True Kelley. Dutton, 1998, ISBN 0525454586. A sing-song exploration of fun all year round.

• Shilds, Carol Diggory. Day By Day a Week Goes Round. Illustrated by True Kelley. Dutton, 1998. A sing-song exploration of fun all week long.

• Marzollo, Jean. How Kids Grow. Photographed by Nancy Sheehan. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN 059045062x. A multicultural tour of babies and toddlers and their families.

Stories

• Bridwell, Norman. Clifford's First Snow Day. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN 0590034804 paper. Clifford the big red dog is not big in this simple story of his early puppy hood.

Songs

Ahlberg, Allan. Mockingbird. Illustrated by Paul Howard. Candlewick Press, 1998. ISBN 0763604399. "Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you..." Wonderful illustrations. A good read or sing aloud.

Alphabet Books

• Roberts, Michael. The Jungle ABC. Hyperion, 1998. An amazing tour of Africa through torn and cut paper illustrations from a cover artist of The New Yorker. A must purchase.

Cohen, Izhar. ABC Discovery!: An Alphabet Book of Picture Puzzles. Dial, 1998. Many words to find for each letter plus many puzzles to solve throughout the book.

Games

• Stott, Dorothy. The Big Book of Games. Dutton, 1998. ISBN: 0525454543. Many of the simple games you knew as a child are given in a picture-book format. Indoor games, party games, car games and singing games such as Ondon Bride Hopscotch, Jacks, Marbles, Musical Chairs, etc. For adults working with young children.

Nonfiction

• Jeunesse, Gallimard and Sylvaine Perols. Night Creatures. Illustrated by Sylvaine Perols. A First Discovery Book. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN: 0590117653. Plastic overlay pages showing owls and bats. Interactive and spiral bound.

• Jeunesse, Gallimard and Gilbert Houbre. Turtles and Snails. Illustrated by Gilbert Houbre. A First Discovery Book. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN: 0590117645. Plastic overlay pages show turtles and snails. Interactive and spiral bound.

• Jeunesse, Gallimard and Sylvaine Perols. Farm Animals. Illustrated by Sylvaine Perols. A First Discovery Book. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN: 0590116185. Plastic overlay pages show several kinds of farm animals. Interactive and spiral bound.

• Brenner, Barbara and May Garelick. The Tremendous Tree Book. Illustrated by Fred Brenner. Boyds Mills Press, 1998. ISBN: 1878093568 hard cover; 1563977184 paper. A first book about trees. A Reading Rainbow Book.

Fiction for the Primary Grades

Good Stories

• Lindgren, Astrid. Pippi Goes to School. Pictures by Michael Chesworth. Viking, 1998. ISBN: 0670880752. Excerpts of two chapters from Pippi Longstocking with illustrations on every page. A good way to get readers interested in the longer books.

• Munsch, Robert. Get Out of Bed! Illustrated by Alan & Lea Daniel. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN: 0590769774. Amy watches so much television that no one can get her up for school so the family takes here there bed and all!

• Calmenson, Stephanie. The Teeny Tiny Teacher: A Teeny Tiny Ghost Story Adapted a Teeny Tiny Bit.. Illustrated by Denis Roche. Everything is teeny tiny - you already know the story. Fun for telling aloud. Simple colorful illustrations.

• Catalano, Dominic. The Highland Minstrel Players Proudly Present: Frog Went A-Courting: A Musical Play in Six Acts. Boyds Mills Press, 1998. ISBN: 1563976374. Wonderful illustrations and unique format for this version. Includes a simple arrangement of the song for voice and guitar.

• Rylant, Cynthia. The Bird House. Illustrations by Barry Moser. The Blue Sky Press (Scholastic), 1998. ISBN: 059047345x. A orphan girl finds a home with the aid of some wild birds.

• Arnold, Marsha Diane. The Pumpkin Runner. Pictures by Brad Sneed. Dial Books, 1998. ISBN 0803721242 trade; 0803721250 lib. bind. The true story of an Australian farmer who runs all his life and enters a big race as an underdog.

• Cullen, Lynn. The Mightiest Heart. Illustrated by Laurel Long. Dial, 1998. ISBN: 0803722923 trade; 0803722931 lib. bind. A wonderful old Irish tale of a Prince and his faithful dog. A good read aloud even for older children.

• Lyon, George Ella. A Traveling Cat. Illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson. Orchard Books, 1998. ISBN: 0531301028 trade; 0531331024 lib. bind. A wonderful story of an adopted family by a cat who stays awhile.

 

African Americans

1998

• Lorbiecki, Marybeth. Sister Anne's Hands. Illustrated by K. Wendy Popp. Dial, 1998. ISBN: 0803720394 lib. bind; 0803720386 trade. A tender story of a black Nun teacher and one white girl's recollection of prejudice. A tear-jerker.

• Bradby, Marie. The Longest Wait. Illustrations by Peter Catalanotto. Orchard Books, 1998. ISBN: 0531068714 trade; 0531087212 lib. bind. A wonderful African American postal worker attempts to deliver the mail in the snowstorm while the family worries. Heartwarming.

1997

• Woodson, Jacqueline. We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past. Hyperion, 1997. African American family and friends have a joyous pitch-in supper and frolic in the park. A slice of culture with splashy illustrations. Recommended.

Folktales

• San Souci, Robert D. Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior. Illustrated by Jean & Mou-sien Tseng. Hyperion, 1998. This lavishly illustrated ancient story, now a Disney movie, is told close to its original version by a fine reteller. The history of the tale is appended at the end - a valuable piece for movie/book tie-in discussions.

• Root, Phyllis. Aunt Nancy and Cousin Lazybones. Illustrated by David Parkins. Candlewick Press, 1998. ISBN: 1564024253. A good-for-nothing relative comes to visit and scrounge until Aunt gets wise. A good read-aloud.

Holidays

• Butterworth, Nick. Jingle Bells. Orchard Books, 1998. ISBN0531301249. A belling-the-cat mouse story at Christmastime. Read-aloud.

• Knowlton, Laurie. The Nativity: Mary Remembers. Illustrated by Kasi Kubiak. Boyds Mill Press, 1998. ISBN 1563977141. A smooth flowing story and gorgeous pictures of this reverent occasion.

• Osborne, Mary Pope. The Life of Jesus in Masterpieces of Art. Viking, 1998. ISBN: 0670873136. Easy-to-read and understand text with paintings from the Medieval period. Readers should be reminded that the pictures are not of the period of Christ's life. Lovely.

Pittman, Helena Clare. The Angel Tree. Pictures by Jo Ellen McAllister Stammen. Dial, 1998. ISBN: 0803719396 trade; 0803719418 lib. bind. A wonderful Christmas story of an old man and a boy.

• Arnosky, Jim. All About Turkeys. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN 0590481479. At Thanksgiving, here is a nonfiction book about turkeys for reading and reports.

• Weller, Frances Ward and Robert J. Blake. The Angel of Mill Street. Philomel Books, 1998. ISBN: 0399231331. Will Uncle Ambrose make it through the snowy Christmas Eve to the family who needs his Christmas spirit? A tender true story.

 

Beginning to Read

• Ziefert, Harriet. Bugs, Beetles, and Butterflies. A Viking Science Easy-to-Read. Viking, 1998. ISBN: 0670880558 hardcover, 0140386912 paperback. Very easy. Bugs, beetles, butterflies and insect names for beginning readers.

• Cocca-Leffler, Maryann. Princess for a Day. Grosset & Dunlap, 1998. ISBN: 0448416050 hardback; 0448416042 paper. A fun girl's dress-up party for the earliest reader.

• Berenstain, Stan & Jan. The Berenstain Bear Schous and the Search for Naughty Ned. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN: 0590565095 paper. More adventures of the famous bunch readers ask for.

• Jungle Jack Hanna's What Zoo Keepers Do. Photos by Rick A. Prebeg. Scholastic, 1998. ISBN0590673246. Level 4 (grades 2&3) Easy reading behind-the scenes work in the zoo. Smooth-reading text.

• Maccarone, Grace. Monster Money. Illustrated by Marge Hartelius. Hello Math Reader level 1 (preschool-grade 1). Counting money to by crazy stuff in a crazy store.

• Rocklin, Joanne. The Case of the Shrunken Allowance. Hello Reader Math - level 4 (grades 2-3) Scholastic, 1998. ISBN 0590120069.. A math mystery in simple language. To be discussed as a lenghty story problem.

Nonfiction for the Primary Grades

Picture Books

• Kent, Peter. Hidden Under the Ground: The World Beneath Your Feet. Dutton, 1998. ISBN: 0525675523. Hundreds of things to look at in caves, animals under the ground, dungeons, minerals, under streets. etc.

• Jones, Bill T. and Susan Kuklin. Dance. Photographed by Susan Kuklin. Hyperion Books, 1998. ISBN: 0786803622 trade; 0786823070 lib. bind. Only a few words, but the photo pages of an African American male dancer make you want to take up the art. A must for children who are and aren't exposed to the arts!

Fiction for the Middle Grades

Science Fiction

• Sleator, William. The Boxes. Dutton, 1998. Uncle Marco gives Annie two boxes to store with specific instructions not to open them. Guess what? Thus opens a science fiction tale of strange creatures, time travel, and a friend who tries to help Annie cope with the unknown. Typical Sleator. Fast paced and an excellent introduction for budding teens to the genre.

 

 

Non Fiction for Middle Grades

Social Responsibility

• Edelman, Marian Wright. Stand for Children. Quilts by Adrienne Yorinks. Hyperion, 1998. On June 1, 1996, Marian Wright Edelman, the president and founder of the Children's Defense Fund, held a rally at the Lincoln Memorial to encourage people everywhere to Sand Fro Children. The anniversary of that day is now celebrated every year as a day for Americans to reconfirm their commitment to children. Elelman's speech illustrated with quilts is a call to advocacy for a nation of young people often neglected or left behind. A book for all ages. Moving.

Philosophy and Religion

• Dillon, Leo and Diane. To Every Thing There Is a Season. Blue Sky Press (Scholastic), 1998. The poet of Ecclesiastics - a time to live, a time to die... is magnificently illustrated from many cultures and time periods across the ages. A must read and purchase.

Handicaps and Disabilities

• Polacco, Patricia. Thank You, Mr. Falker. Philomel Books, 1998. The author of Pink and Say turns her attention toward her own childhood struggle with dyslexia and a fifth grade teacher who not only noticed, but did something about it. Heartwarming.

• Rankin, Laura. The Handmade Counting Book. Dial, 1998. ISBN: 0803723091 trade; 0803723113 lib. bind. Learn to count in sign language. Excellent illustrations.

Biography

• Meltzer, Milton. Ten Queens: Portraits of Women of Power. Dutton, 1998. In oversize format, Meltzer tells short but literary stories of ten powerful women: Esther, Cleopatra, Boudicca, Zenobia, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabel of Spain, Elizabeth I, Christina of Sweden, Maria Theresa and Catherine the Great.

• Hansen, Joyce. Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made a Difference. Scholastic, 1998. A picture book suitable for short reports on notables including the Delany Sisters, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Marian Wright Edelman, among others. Outstanding photo-portraits.

Schachner, Judith Byron. Mr. Emerson's Cook. Dutton, 1998. ISBN: 0525458840. An introduction to Ralph Waldo Emerson's home life in picture book format. A pleasant story and briefest introduction to his wisdom.

• Polacco, Patricia. Thank You, Mr. Falker. Philomel Books, 1998. ISBN 0399231668. The author of Pink and Say tells the story of her own dislexia as a child and of the wonderful 5th grade teacher who saved her! Heartwarming.

Business

• Halperin, Wendy Anderson. Once Upon a Company... A True Story. Orchard Books, 1998. ISBN: 0531300897 trade; 0537330893 lib. bind. A wonderful story of entrepreneurial kids! Don't miss this one in economics/money/business/ kid smarts.

Social Studies

• Wolf, Bernard. If I Forget Thee, O Jerusalem. Dutton, 1998. ISBN: 0525457380. The text is a little tough, but the photo essay of ancient and modern Jerusalem and its inhabitants is remarkable. Great for reports or just a picture look-through.

 

Information Literacy

General

• Scholastic Explains Reading Homework: Everything Children (and Parents) Need to Survive 2nd and 3rd Grades. Scholastic, 1998. One-page idea starters for lessons in such topics as fiction and nonfiction, using graphic organizers, summarizing information, identifying main idea, identifying sequence, etc.

• Heiligman, Beborah. The New York Public Library Kid's Guide to Research. Scholastic, 1998. Probably not anything a child would read, but for the librarian, ideas for content in traditional skill topics such as choosing a topic to more recent topics of concern such as the Internet, judging the reliability of sources, interviewing, and doing surveys. Middle Grades.

Questions and Wonders

Finds and Sorts

Consumes & Gulps

Thinks and Creates

• Swinburne, Stephen R. Lots and Lots of Zebra Stripes : Patterns in Nature: Boyds Mills Press, 1998. A fine picture book for children - or any age - to recognize regular and chaotic patterns in nature - and a wonderful stimulus to think about patterns of ideas, opinions, data, and information systems.

Summarizes & Concludes

Communicates

• Williams, Marcia. Tales From Shakespeare: Seven Plays presented by Marcia Williams.. Candlewick Press, 1998. For kids and teens who need a unique way of turning a report into a cartoon version, here is a great idea starter. Each brief play summary not only illustrates what the writer knows, but silly cartoon characters in the margins make hilarious comments.

Reflects on Process & Product