Zora and Me by Victoria Bond

Zora and Me by Victoria Bond

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Carrie and Zora are best friends in the small, all-black town of Eatonville, Florida around the beginning

of the 20th century. Zora is considered one of the most creative people in their town, although she’s also known to be a frequent liar. When a young man gets killed trying to wrestle an alligator, Zora’s imagination runs wild with stories of gators—including one about her claiming to see a local elderly man appearing to be half man, half gator.



Her stories grow even wilder when a man is found murdered just outside of their town; Zora, naturally, believes that the gator man did it! All of this is going on while they deal with issues in each of their families; Zora’s father doesn’t want Zora to “act white”, while Carrie’s father left for a temporary job in Orlando a year before and hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Together, the girls face what new challenges life seems to be handing them in a world that isn’t as small and safe as they had once thought.



This is an interesting story based on Zora Neal Hurston, the author of well-known books such as Their Eyes Were Watching God, and her childhood best friend Carrie. Included at the end of the book is a short biography of Hurston’s life. Readers who enjoy stories that take place around the turn of the 20th century might also enjoy The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Kelly) and The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had (Levine).





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The Death-Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean

The Death-Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In mid-twentieth century France, Pepper’s malicious aunt claims to have had a vision of his death the night before he was born; in it, Pepper dies at age fourteen. Always the well-behaved child, he never thinks to question this and takes it as fact—along with the rest of his dim-witted family. Therefore, he’s forced to spend his childhood confessing his sins at church, memorizing the last rites, and learning about the saints. But when his fourteenth birthday arrives, he realizes that he’s not ready to die, so he decides on a whim to run away to become someone else—and so elude death.



Pepper begins his quest to escape death on board a ship where he pretends to be his own father, who is a captain. Other roles he later steps into include a deli meat slicer, journalist, telegram deliverer, member of the Foreign Legion, and more. He constantly wonders how he’s able to step into these parts so easily: “Well, people see what they expect. Don’t they? Or do they see what they choose?” (16). Despite all of the misfortune Pepper faces during this time, he retains his kind nature towards others, always putting their needs before his own. Luckily, there’s a person out there who’s keeping an eye out for Pepper’s best interests too—unbeknownst to him.



This is an excellent book, full of adventure and humor. Pepper is such a likable character that the reader can’t help but root for him from the very start. Those who enjoyed this book might enjoy Peter Pan in Scarlet, also by this author.





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Picture books for mock Caldecott

Some recent posts here are going to include picture books that are on the mock Caldecott book list that I'm trying to read before there's an actual winner. The winner will be announced on January 10, 2011. More information about this and the books involved can be found here.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)

The Extraordinary Mark Twain by Barbara Kerley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked this book! The pictures were neat and the colors really pop. There are also pages from the journal written by his daughter Susy attached to some of the pages...and a note about Mark Twain and Susy at the end of the book.



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Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book is just okay. It's too long to use in a storytime and the pictures didn't impress me at all; I feel as though this book is just an average preschooler book.



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My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Animals made of hearts; story is in rhyme...nothing special.



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Summer Birds by Margarita Engle

Summer Birds by Margarita Engle

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Who calls butterflies...birds? This person, evidently.



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Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli

Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I [sort of] see how this book is important, but...

Many people visit the lady who comes to be known as Mama Miti; they visit her for help and advice. However, her advice is always the same: to grow Maathai trees. Well, taken literally, the starving family is still going to starve if they plant a Maathai tree--won't it take years to grow and bear fruit? And the family who needs shelter will still need shelter if they plant a Maathai tree--won't it take years to grow enough to take branches from to build a home?

Because this is just so outrageous to me, all symbolism is lost and becomes meaningless. The pictures are nice, though.



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My Garden by Kevin Henkes

My Garden by Kevin Henkes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I really liked this book--the pictures are so sweet! I used this in a storytime already and bought a copy for the department's story collection.



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Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow by Gary Golio

Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow: a Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book was just okay. The pictures are interesting, but I found the text looking disorganized on the pages because of all the color and fonts used. It may prompt older readers to wonder about Jimi Hendrix and seek out other materials about him.



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Knuffle Bunny Free by Mo Willems

Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion by Mo Willems

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was done with this story after _Knuffle Bunny, Too!_ I mean, really, how irresponsible is this family? Luckily, it should be over now. The author's letter to his daughter at the end is sweet, though.



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Here Comes the Garbage Barge by Jonah Winter

Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Winter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book is based on the true story of trying to find a 'home' for garbage that no one wanted to take responsibility for. The pictures were funny and interesting but not cutesy. This would be a good book to read one-on-one.



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Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo

Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I didn't love this book; yeah, it was cute, but I thought that the taller one was an adult, so I thought their relationship was weird. Even later learning that they're friends doesn't make it extra special for me or anything. Kids will probably like it, but it's not really for me.



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Sir Charlie Chaplin, the Funniest Man in the World

Sir Charlie Chaplin by Sid Fleischman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Charlie Chaplin dreamed of living a better life while he was stuck in the slums of London with his mother and older brother. He did odd jobs around town to help his family get by; as a teen, one of the jobs he

had was as a slapstick comedy performer in vaudeville acts (variety shows). When his small group was touring America, a director saw his act and signed him to do movies (which were silent and only a few

minutes long at that time).



Charlie soon gained enough confidence in his comedic acting ability—and earned enough money—to leave the production company he had originally signed with in order to not only build his own studio, but direct and star in his own films. The public loved these films and couldn’t get enough of him, making him a multi-millionaire—and making his boyhood dreams come true.



This is a very interesting book about a man that, when in costume, nearly anyone today can identify—but whose personal life isn’t as universally well known. His rags-to-riches rise from poor boy to Hollywood legend is a great and inspiring story. Those who enjoyed this book might also enjoy other biographies by Sid Fleischman, such as Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini (Harry Houdini) or The Trouble Begins at 8: a Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West (Mark Twain).





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