The Courageous Princess

Title:  The Courageous Princess

Genre: Graphic Novel

Author: Rod Espinosa

Illustrator: Rod Espinosa

Publisher: Dark Horse

Publication Date: May 22, 2007

ISBN: 159307719X

Awards: Nomination for “Promising new talent” and “Best artist” for the 2000 Ignatz Awards

2002 Eisner Award nomination for “Best Title for Younger Readers”

Plot: An unusual unlovely Princess finds herself captured by an evil dragon.  With nary a fairy godmother or prince charming in sight, Mabelrose manages to extricate herself and undertake an epic journey home.

Audience: Ages 4 and up

Uses: This book would be good for reluctant readers as artwork dominates what looks on the surface like a long read.  It is a more complicated princess story for those girls still thinking about prince charming.  The book's beautiful artwork can stand alone so this book can be a picture book for younger non-readers.

Cover: The cover is very reminiscent of a fairy tale but the Princess seated upon a large boar hints at a plot twist.

Panel Structure or Format: The panels follow no structure; they are randomly spaced and placed.  Occasionally there is an unframed picture or a full page bleed. The pages are very busy and some text balloons escape the boundaries of their gutters.

Images or Illustrations:  The face structure portrays emotions well and the color palate changes from light to dark to match the mood of the scene.  The artwork is very detailed and plentiful, so it’s hard to take it all in.

Content and Words: The text is presented in very small print, which makes it difficult to read at times.  The words contain no lower case letters and can get lost in the illustrations.

Text and Art Together: The text and the art are disjointed.  The illustrations are meticulous while the words and sentence structure are simplistic.

Age Appropriateness: The story, if one can follow the disorganized text, is a simple one at heart so young readers would be able to read the story.  As a picture book it is a lovely piece of art.

Strengths: The artwork is fantastic.  The idea that the Princess saves herself is a very refreshing storyline. The book offers multiple references to other fairy tales, such as Mablerose’s mother being a descendant of Snow White while her father traces his line back to Aladdin.

Weaknesses: The book covers the importance of prayer very often, could be off putting to readers of other faiths.  The storyline reaches a climax but does not offer a good resolution at the end as if the author is expecting his readers to move immediately on to the other books in the series.

Read Alikes: The Courageous Princess- The Quest to Home (2001) and The Courageous Princess- The Kingdom of Leptia (2002) by Rod Espinosa; There's a Princess in the Palace (2010) by Zoe Allen

Bink & Gollie

Title: Bink & Gollie

Series: Bink & Gollie

Genre:  Early/Easy Reader

Author: Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

Illustrator: Tony Fucile

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: September 14, 2010

ISBN: 076363266X

Awards: 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award;

2011 ALA Notable Children’s Books, Younger Readers;

Children's Book Committee Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year 2011, Humor, ages 5-9;

Kirkus Reviews 2010 Best Children’s Books; Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Books 2010, Fiction;

NY Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2010

Plot: The sock shopping, pancaking eating, mountain climbing, roller skating adventures of Bink ( along with her fish named Fred) and Gollie.

Audience: Age Level: 6 and up, Grade Level: 1 and up

Uses: This is a great book for an eager early reader to expand their horizons. It would also be good for reading aloud in a classroom or library as long as one shares the delightful illustrations. It's a nice book to illustrate that the best of friends can look and act completely differently and still be holding hands at the end of the day.

Simple Concept: The book is a collection of three stories and both the story “title” and the first word of the first story are simple and easy to read.  Each progressive story is more intricate but the concept of two friends making plans is clear in each story.

Character Introduction:  Bink and Gollie are introduced in the very first line of the story.

Setting Introduction:  The title page features the homes of Bink and Gollie, and the town setting is quickly introduced.

Words per line: The lines have no more than ten words each, but some of the words are doozies.

Sentence Structure: Sentence span lines and often take two or three to complete. The structure is not overly simplistic.

 Action: There are multiple action scenes on each page both in text and in illustration.

Appealing Repetition:  Through the three stories there is a continuity of Bink’ striped socks which she purchases, much to Gollie’s dismay, in the first story.   There are very few word sequence repetitions.

Context for new words: There are some context clues for the extremely long early reader words, but not enough to completely explain them all, especially when more than one appears in a sentence.

Print: The print is in a clean, uncluttered font but it not overly large.

White Space:  There is plenty of white space for the eye to rest. 

Illustrations: The illustrations are mostly in black and white with pops of color.  They do give clues to the accompaning text.  For example a giant bin of socks accompanies the phrase, “It’s a sock bonanza.”

Strengths: Very funny, charming tale of two friends.  The humorous artwork engages the reader and helps pull them along the narrative.  The book offers some new vocabulary for the child reader and dry humor for the adult listener/reader.

Weaknesses: While these new words area welcome addition to any child’s vocabulary; they are in no way easy to read.  Words like outrageous; Tasmania; implore, extraordinary, and accomplishment mean that an adult needs to be within easy reach for the child to really understand the text.

Read Alikes: George and Martha series (1974) James Marshall; Zelda and Ivy series (1998) Laura McGee Kvasnosky; Calvin and Hobbs series by Bill Watterson

Brooklyn Bridge

Title:  Brooklyn Bridge

Genre:  Informational Picture Book

Author:  Lynn Curlee

Illustrator: Lynn Curlee

Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

ISBN: 0689831838

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, ALA Robert F. Sibert Award Honor Book 2002, CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book CBC/NSTA Outstanding Science Book for Children Children's Literature Choice List

Synopsis: The book tells the story of the remarkable building process of the Brooklyn Bridge, a feat of engineering once referred to as the “eighth wonder of the world.”

Audience: 8 and up

Uses: This book would be a good source on engineering advances of the 1800’s.  It could also be used in preparation for a sight-seeing visit to New York.  Or it could be used to illustrate the awful working conditions of immigrants.

Accuracy: The book is well researched and contains factual information along with more personal tidbits that make the book feel hospitable.

Organization: The book begins with some background information on the state of the nation and the needs of New Yorkers to help explain the construction of the bridge.  The story is told chronologically.  Readers will appreciate the consolidated information at the back of the book.

Strengths:  There are some terrific illustrations that help the text make more sense. The back of the book features a series of drawings, one comparing the bridge in 1883 to the bridge today.  There is also a list of specifications and a time line on the final pages. The book includes a bibliography for further reading.

Weaknesses: For a picture book, the text is very detailed.  It can be overwhelming.  The book jumps from the engineering aspects to the bridge’s founding family and important details are glossed over occasionally.

Read Alikes: Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing (2005) by April Jones Prince; Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building (2006) by Deborah Hopkinson; Liberty (20030 by Lynn Curlee

Time for Kids Online Magazine

Children’s Magazines Evaluations

Title: Time for Kids Online Edition

Publisher: Time Inc.

Intended audience: 4 editions online, grades K-1, 2, 3-4, 5-6

First Edition Date: 1995, print edition

URL: http://www.timeforkids.com/

Awards: 2004 Distinguished Achievement Award Winner for News Feature & News Report

Content: TIME For Kids is a subscription based weekly classroom news magazine

Quality-

Production, illustrations, writing: Top notch production, illustrations and writing

Layout and design: catchy without being cluttered, eye catching

Ease of use: Easy to navigate point and click simple

Attractive: Very nice looking site

Developmentally suited to audience: articles are appropriate for the intended audience

Writers, contributors: Features kid reporter as well as adults

Types of content: Educational, news stories, Core Curriculum support

 Interesting: Very good reading material, stores are current and engaging

Strengths/ Weaknesses:  Time for Kids is a great addition to the library.  It offers up to date information in a child friendly presentation.  As a subscription periodical it is not free or even low cost.

Uses: This magazine is a great for science reports, social studies follow ups. Teachers could use it to enrich core curriculum.  A good mgazine for teacher and students alike.

Read Alikes: Junior Scholastic® Grades 6–8, Weekly Reader Pre-Kindergarten

Miss O's Library Lang Blog

Blog Evaluation

Blog Title: Miss O’s Library Land

URL: http://missolibrary.blogspot.com/

Blogger:  Miss O, “a children's literature specialist with a strong interest in Pre-k to 3^rd grade literature”

Blog purpose, agenda: “This blog reviews children's books and highlights general library news”

Contributors: none

Awards: none

Audience: 8- Adult, book reviews for younger readers, mostly geared towards parents & educators/librarians.

Authority: Miss O is a New York City primary school librarian

First impressions: Well written, includes photos, very nice blog

Attractive & Interesting: The photos add interest to the blog post; the book cover art is a nice visual aid.

Clearly organized & well laid out: Very clean, uncluttered blog space, nicely organized and easy to navigate

Any negatives: There is a noticeable lack of comments or responses on the blog

Blogger reading/ citing: Caldecott award winners, School Library Journal articles

Blog Status: Start date was 2008. Blog is part of Kidlitosphere, links to NY public library and other useful sites.

Uses: This blog is a source of library news for the under motivated.  The book reviews could be useful for collection development.

Depth and Authority: Book reviews and events are covered in depth.  Other entries are often just links to articles or other blog posts.

Sophisticated language and spelling:  The blog is written in a casual, conversational style.  Spelling and grammar errors are few.

Blog alive/ substantial archive/Currency of posts:  The latest blog post is from March 8, 2012 (a month old). Miss O averages 20-40 post per year, all the way back to 2008.

Point in a story’s lifetime does a post appear: A Nov 20^th post about the book “Balloons Over Broadway- The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade,” helped connect the tradition with its origins.  The newest Caldecott winner was celebrated shortly after its announcement.

Upfront about its bias/ recognize and discuss other points of view: Miss O is not surprisingly very pro-library, wild about children’s books and excited to share with the world the importance of having a school librarian.

Traditional “expert,” or a first-hand view or unique perspective: Miss O is a school librarian

Read Alikes: Abby the Librarian (http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/ ), Kid Tested, Librarian Approved (http://librarianapproved.blogspot.com/ )

Broadway Kids: Back on Broadway CD

Music Evaluation

Music/CD Title: Broadway Kids Back on Broadway   

 Artist: Broadway Kids                                                                                                     

Music Producer:  Julius Shulman 

 Music Label: Lightyear                                                         

Copyright or Release Date: September 15, 1998

Tracks: 12

Length: 43:47

Awards: 1999 Notable Children's Recordings

Audience:  ages 2-12

Content: Popular theatrical tunes sung by children who work on Broadway

Organization: Songs are arranged in a pleasing pattern of upbeat songs and ballads

Vocals:  Most of the artist hit amazing notes, and each sings with heart

Instrumentation: The music fit well with the tone and range of the artist and songs

Styles: Of course as Broadway songs they are theatrical, but some songs are slower and softer while some are more upbeat and dynamic.

Physical and technical issues: None

Technical Quality

Quality vocals and instrumentation: Overall, excellent.  One song has some lackluster projection and another was slightly pitchy.

Full, rich sound: one most tracks very rich full sound

Mix of styles

◦      Classical, jazz, hip-hop, folk – no, sticks to Broadway belts

◦      Introduces kids to new sounds - possibly

Clear, clever lyrics: Yes, listen closely for a chuckle

Kid-friendly topics: Mostly, the “Hair” rendition not as much

Uses:

*Story time openers and closers

*Circulation – “home” libraries

*Setting a mood in the children’s area

*Introducing children to a Broadway play

Listen Alikes: Broadway Kids: Sing Broadway (2008) Lightyear,   I Won't Grow Up: Broadway for Kids (2001) Jay Records