Hiatus

Unfortunately, the blog will be on temporary hiatus for the next two weeks. My life is rapidly filling with shopping, work, decorating, baking, family, wrapping paper, projects, cleaning, and catchy songs, so I need a bit of time to take care of everything. Until next time, happy holidays everyone...



...so hug someone who likes a book, already.

Christmas explosion!!!

The Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad

Moss, Jeff. The Dad of the Dad of the Dad of Your Dad. New York : Ballatine Books, 1997.

Plot: Moss' collection of poetry about kids and their dads. The book follows a mythical chronological order of fathers interacting with their children, beginning with a prehistoric father and son playing together and ending with a great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather teaching his children the joy of individuality. Throughout the collection, the themes of common father-child issues, such as change, bonding, and growing up enjoy attention through rhymes. A simple, sweet collection.

Genre: Collections, Poetry

Reading Level: Ages 4-9

Similar Titles: The Butterfly Jar, Beneath a Blue Umbrella, Grasshopper Pie and Other Poems

Personal Thoughts: Apparently, Jeff Moss originally wrote songs for Sesame Street, and the influence shows, though not in a "babyish" manner. Instead, much like the lyrics in the show, the stories contain universal appeal in their subject matter, simplicity, and, for lack of a better term, "catchiness." Much like the works of Shel Silverstien, the poems' illustrations are simple, but appropriate and inviting. While some critics fault the simplicity and traditional aspects of the poems, they still credit Moss for creating an easily-approachable series of poems.

Falling Up: Poems and Drawings

Silverstien, Shel. Falling Up: Poems and Drawings. New York, N.Y. : HarperCollins, 1996.

Plot: A collection of poems and illustrations by Shel Silverstien. Much of Silverstien's work echoes the common hopes, fears, and daily lives of its readers. It then promptly switches tones to the comedic, ironic, or unexpected in a natural, but still surprising, manner. Such poems include the tale of a haunted house, the punishment of a boy who took a nap, and the day a student replaced his teachers. To complement the poems, Silverstien includes hand-drawn illustrations, which often add to the poems themselves, particularly in the case of a rogue eel, track team coach, and greeting-eager monster.

Genre: Collections, Poetry

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: Where the Sidewalk Ends, Fearless Fernie, The Frog Wore Red Suspenders

Personal Thoughts: A poetry book for a non-poetry reader. Many of the poems follow more conventional styles of literature, such as songs, ballads, stories, and jokes, so readers new to poems may find them more accessible than traditional collections. Additionally, the poems focus on real fantasies, fears, and experiences of the readers, while making the entire situation funnier through twist endings and comedic illustrations. Overall, the book reflects the best aspects of Silverstien's style.

Winter Eyes: Poems & Paintings

Douglas, Florian. Winter Eyes: Poems & Paintings. New York : Greenwillow Books, 1999.

Plot: A collection of poems regarding the coldest time of year. The joys of the season, such as sledding, snow, maple syrup, and fireside moments enjoy multiple references. However, the poems also reflect the downside of winter, especially the lack of sunlight and natural life. Still, winter remains an important, introspective time of the year, as the poems suggest. Each page also contains paintings relating to the literature. The art has a simple, Americana-style, which enhances the rustic style of the poetry.

Genre: Poetry, Collections

Reading Level: Grades 2-5

Similar Titles: Winter Poems, Handsprings, Beast Feast

Personal Thoughts: This was a difficult read. Many of the poems simply did not engage the reader in an interesting manner. The collection quickly turned into a monotonous series of rhymes about winter sports or winter grudges. While the poems themselves were not bad, some readers will quickly tire from the lack of variety. In addition, the art falls into the trap of similarity. If shown individually, the illustrations may stand out, but together, they eventually blend without any proving distinct or eye-catching. While the items provide examples of classic poetic methods, other collections may offer the variation necessary to maintain readers' attention.

The Solar System: A True Book

Trammel, Howard K. The Solar System: A True Book. New York : Scholastic, 2010.

Plot: A review of the solar system.

Genre: Astronomy, Science

Reading Level: Grades 2 and up

Similar Titles: The Moon, Stars, Saturn

Personal Thoughts: The book provided solid information with attractive graphics. Unfortunately, neither the illustration nor text were memorable. It certainly is not a bad book, but the other items reviewed this week capture interest more effectively and offer better-rounded information. 

Exploring Our Solar System

Ride, Sally and O'Shaughnessy, Tam. Exploring Our Solar System. New York : Crown Publisher, 2003.

Plot: Written by an astronaut, the item provides a textbook-like view of our solar system. While the work offers standard information, such as planet characteristics, it also explores the human elements surrounding astronomy. For example, each planet's chapter includes its discovery and initial observations. The text reaches further depth by exploring the involvement of NASA and similar institutions, revealing how the information was obtained and changed previous beliefs.

Genre: Science, Astronomy, History

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: To Space and Back

Personal Thoughts: While this book is notably more in-depth than any other I read this week, the details did not capture me. Rather, the history behind the science caught my interest. Sometimes, it is easy to take the accessibility of information for granted, and the book reveals how much effort and time discoveries often cost. Also, the novel was written by an actual astronaut, which leads to a genuinely authentic feel to the work. Highly recommended for astronomy fans.

Postcards from Pluto: A Tour of the Solar System

Leedy, Loreen. Postcards from Pluto: A Tour of the Solar System. New York : Holiday House, 1993.

Plot: A solar system picture book. The book showcases information on the star and planets making up the solar system through a series of postcards sent by a tour group. The group consists of several children, whose individual style enhances the descriptions of the celestial bodies.

Genre: Science, Astronomy

Reading Level: Grades 4-8

Similar Titles: The Planets, The Moon Book

Personal Thoughts: Much like the Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, the book uses unconventional methods to show readers basic astronomy concepts. The simple, but brightly colored illustrations showcase the beauty of the solar system and the different styles of writing capture the reader's interest. Unfortunately, the book does not convey detailed information about the planets. Still, it offers a solid introduction to the planets surrounding earth.

The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System

Cole, Joanna and Degen, Bruce. The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System. New York : Scholastic Inc., 1990.

Plot: Arnold's annoying cousin comes to class for their field trip to the planetarium. Despite Arnold's warnings, she expects the trip to further prove her school's superiority, rather than the adventures the other students promise her. However, when Miss Frizzle transforms the school bus into a rocket, the new kid discovers the truth of her cousin's insistence. The class discovers the solar system, beginning with the sun and moving outwards. After a minor collision with some space debris, the class suddenly finds itself in the middle of the solar system without a teacher. Using Miss Frizzle's notes, the class must navigate the outer planets and find a way back to earth.

Genre: Science, Astronomy

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: The Magic School Bus series

Personal Thoughts: One of the original Magic School Bus books. The series inspired a cartoon in 1994.

Despite the series age, it continues to amuse and educate children. Unlike many science-based books, the series uses story elements and in-universe themes to present information, making complex topics less formidable. However, the age of the books shows in some topics, particularly in the address of Pluto. At the time of the book's publication, Pluto was recognized as a planet. Currently, most astronomers recognize it as a dwarf planet. Still, the illustrations, text, and jokes gently and effectively introduce readers to the solar system.