Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming

Imogene's Last Stand

Imogene is a history-loving young girl who manages to get Liddleville, New Hampshire's dilapidated Historical Society Building renovated, only to find it is to be torn down and replaced by a shoelace factory!  Mayor Butz and most of the Liddleville's residents think the shoelace factory will "put this town on the map."  Imogene's efforts to keep the historical society open seem to be doomed until she finds a letter in the building from George Washington, indicating that he had slept in town.  Imogene informs the Liddleville historian about President Washington's letter and asks for his help.

Imogene has already locked herself in a stockade when the bulldozers arrive.  Fortunately the Liddleville historian and the President of the United States declare the house a national landmark!  This will definitely put Liddleville on the map!

Filled with appropriate quotations from several United States presidents and other actual historical figures, this book is a delightful call to stand up for what you believe in.  The charming illustrations perfectly complement the old -time feeling of the story.  The endpapers describe the origin of each famous quotation.  The book ends with Imogene's own "immortal" quotation: "That was totally fun," which is a perfect description of the experience of reading this book.

Carol Buchanan
2012

A Storm Called Katrina, by Myron Uhlberg. Illustrated by Colin Bootman

A Storm Called Katrina

Bootman's watercolor illustrations and Uhlberg's first-person fictional account is of a ten year-old boy and his parents who are displaced by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

The child describes what he sees, and goes through; his observations of the things his parents, and other adults say and do affects how he feels.

This picture book is a moving and well-crafted story, intended for elementary school-aged children.

2011.

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace by Jen Cullerton Johnson. Illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler

Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace

Did you know that one person can change the world? Wangari, a young girl growing up in Kenya, did! She learned from her mother that the mugumo tree was home to many creatures and supplied food to many people and animals. When she returned to Kenya after studying biology in college in the United States, she saw that foreign companies were cutting down trees so they could develop coffee plantations. With fewer and fewer trees to hold the soil in place, the land was being destroyed. Wangari began a campaign to encourage women to plant trees. Eventually thirty million trees were planted! Learn how Wangari's persistence taught people all over the world to protect the environment. She showed the power women can have when they work together. This true story is brightly illustrated with stylized drawings that make you want to visit Kenya. An inspiring biography for readers of all ages.

2010

C. Buchanan

Eat Your Math Homework: Recipes for Hungry Minds, by Ann McCallum. Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez.

Eat Your Math Homework

Don't be fooled by the picture-book format of this fun--and beautifully illustrated--cookbook. It's definitely for older elementary-aged children. The recipes are all about various math (NOT arithmetic) concepts, such as Fibonacci Snack Sticks, Tessellating Two-Color Brownies, and Probability Trail Mix.

The layout is superb, especially considering all that is carefully included. Recipes are clearly given and humorously illustrated, and the math ideas are well defined and explained. A few small sidebars present concept explanations with stumper-type questions (solutions are at the end of the book). Math terms are in bold font, which is effective. And, there is a glossary and an index at the end. 2011.

Yummy!

K. Muhm

Silk & Venom: Searching for a Dangerous Spider, by Kathryn Lasky. Photos by Christopher G. Knight.

Gorgeous photos by Christopher G. Knight invite readers to look--really look, up close--at the poisonous spider, the Loxosceles, also known as the Recluse. Scientist Greta Binford is curious, devoted, imaginative and brave in her quest to understand all about this intriguing, and very dangerous, spider. The book follows Greta's life and career, and her worldwide travels and adventures, offering a solid female non-traditional role model. 2011.

K. Muhm

Ruth and the Green Book, by Calvin Alexander Ramsey. Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.

Did you ever hear of the The Negro Motorist Green Book by Victor Green? Well, neither did I, until I read this book. Did you know that as late as the 1960's, African-Americans travelling in the southern states would not be served in most restaurants, were not allowed to stay in hotels, and could not use restrooms in many gas stations? This fiction story tells of a family traveling from Chicago to Alabama to visit Grandma. On their way, the family is confronted with the Jim Crow laws in the South which forbade blacks and whites from mixing. Luckily for Ruth and her family, an actual person named Victor H. Green wrote The Negro Motorist Green Book, which listed places where African-Americans were welcome to stay overnight, eat, shop, get a haircut, or use the rest rooms. This story is an excellent history lesson, while at the same time showing how people helped each other out during these trying times. Floyd Cooper's soft illustrations accurately portray the towns and cars of the time.

The last page of this softly illustrated book gives a factual history of the Negro Motorist Green Book and explains that the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 outlawed these practices .

2010

C. Buchanan

Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors, by Joyce Sidman. Illustrated by Beckie Prange.

This unusual book includes succinct information about forms of life that have lived for millions and sometimes billions of years, a poem about each entry, and an accompanying double-page, very appealing and often fact-filled illustration. Readers will learn about bacteria (3.8 billion years old), sharks (375 million years old), ants (140 million years old), humans (only 100,000 years old) and much more. Included in the factual section are the genus, age, and size, as well as the fascinating reasons why these creatures have survived, while "99 percent of all species that have existed are now extinct." The poems are accessible. This book is sure to enhance the knowledge of a young person interested in biology, and hopefully whet the appetite of readers who might be potential scientists. The timeline on the endpapers, author's and illustrator's notes, and the glossary make this book even more intriguing.
2010

C. Buchanan

The Firehouse Light, by Janet Nolan. Illustrated by Marie Lafrance

A short history of how firefighting has changed over the last century is wrapped in the true story of a hand-blown, four-watt light bulb which was installed in a firehouse in northern California in 1901, which has not burned out yet! The illustrations are reminiscent of American Primitive, fitting in well with the text. Lovely! 2010.

K. Muhm

All You Can Be: Dream It, Draw It, Become It! By Curtis Granderson

Written by the Yankee centerfielder, Curtis Granderson, this motivational book urges young readers to set goals for themselves as a means to succeed in life. Have fun, choose the right friends, play with passion, be a leader, value family, be yourself, listen and learn, think positive and never be satisfied are the values Curtis recommends. The first person, very readable text which describes Curtis' childhood experiences, is accompanied by photos of the author as a young boy. Appealing drawings by fourth grade youngsters illustrate what they want to be when they grow up. Readers will enjoy the colorful details and great variety in the children's work. This book will appeal to baseball fans, budding artists, youngsters looking for role models, and parents who want to transmit the values that Curtis is so passionate about. 2009
C. Buchanan

Math Attack, by Joan Horton

Everyone who has had a good math teacher has had to learn the number facts. Arithmetic strain strikes the main character when she can't recall what seven times ten is. Numbers start flying out of her head and cause pandemonium all over town. Neither the school nurse, the police department, nor the local TV station seems to be able help. When the gears start spinning in her head, the girl miraculously remembers the answer, but what happens when the teacher gives her an example from the nine times table?
This illustrated literature has frantic illustrations which make a common, stressful situation full of humor. 2009

C. Buchanan

Ruby's Wish, by Shirin Yim Bridges

In China during the 19th century, Grandfather has a household of many wives and many children. Ruby, his spunky little granddaughter named for the color she loves, writes a poem describing how the girls in the family are not treated as well as the boys. As we learn about the Chinese family structure and household traditions, we also see how Ruby's great desire to go to university comes true. Her determination and her loving relationship with her Grandfather make her wish come true. In a surprise ending we see a photograph of the author's grandmother on whom Ruby's character is based. The appealing illustrations, which are unclutted and accented in bright red, complement the story. While learning a little about Chinese history, the reader is gently presented with the timely topics of women's equality and the value of education.
2002
C. Buchanan

Two Bobbies, by Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery

The touching picture book tells the true story of the friendship between a dog and a cat in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. They stick together and care for each other as they wander the streets, and when they are taken in by a shelter it becomes clear just how special the bond between them is. 2008.
M. Adams