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(3)
YA
No one can know that Jetta's necromantic power animates her family's renowned shadow-puppet shows. When she and her parents must flee--amid a rebellion--they make an unlikely ally in Leo, a young man with his own secrets. A heroine whose supernatural ability and bipolar disorder are both significant, but not defining, characteristics; a vivid world inspired by nineteenth-century South Asia; and an epistolary structure make for a particularly compelling fantasy-romance.
259 pp.
| Random
| July, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-399-55070-6$16.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-399-55071-3$19.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-399-55072-0
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Kathrin Honesta.
When the Museum of Peculiar Arts closes, eleven-year-old boy Chance (a former volunteer) is given Penny, a lifelike, child-size marionette. In an accidental body switch, Chance becomes consciously trapped in the puppet, while Penny is free--and loving it. A creepy puppeteer, a traveling carnival, and Chance's come-to-the-rescue sister Constance feature in a complex and compelling plot with heart and a touch of horror.
(3)
K-3
Dabble Lab: Sock Puppet Theater series.
After a quick summary of the source material, each book instructs children in making sock puppet characters and props and also provides a script (with a few contemporary touches) for putting on a play of the folktale. Material about staging, voices, and extending the stories into original scripts (reusing the same puppets) adds to the fun. Illustrated with clear color photos. Reading list. Glos. Review covers these Dabble Lab: Sock Puppet Theater titles: Sock Puppet Theater Presents "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and Sock Puppet Theater Presents "Little Red Riding Hood".
(3)
K-3
Dabble Lab: Sock Puppet Theater series.
After a quick summary of the source material, each book instructs children in making sock puppet characters and props and also provides a script (with a few contemporary touches) for putting on a play of the folktale. Material about staging, voices, and extending the stories into original scripts (reusing the same puppets) adds to the fun. Illustrated with clear color photos. Reading list. Glos. Review covers these Dabble Lab: Sock Puppet Theater titles: Sock Puppet Theater Presents "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" and Sock Puppet Theater Presents "Little Red Riding Hood".
40 pp.
| Dial
| January, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-525-42850-3$14.99
(3)
K-3
Ordinary People Change the World series.
Illustrated by
Christopher Eliopoulos.
Puppeteer Henson narrates his own biography, chattily relating childhood anecdotes (as a bearded adult) that shaped his life and his lasting legacy of the Muppets. There's some gentle moralizing ("keep believing and keep pretending"), but it's well delivered via this series' child-friendly design: a small trim size and cartoon art with occasional comics-style frames and speech-bubble text. Photographs are appended. Reading list, timeline. Bib.
(2)
YA
Diary entries relate twelve-year-old electively mute orphan Mary's heart-wrenching experience of bullying at Thornhill Institute in 1982. Alternating and gradually intertwining with Mary's narrative is Ella's story in 2017, told entirely in atmospheric black-and-white illustrations. Her investigation into Thornhill's past gradually reveals Mary's fate. The suspenseful ghost story and highly visual format make for an undeniable page-turner; text and illustrations reward careful attention with telling details.
Reviewer: Katie Bircher
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2017
32 pp.
| Bloomsbury
| May, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-61963-675-0$16.99
(3)
PS
Gorilla Doris is embarrassed when she's called a baby for carrying Frankie, her special blankie (a problem many readers will understand). She experiments--unsuccessfully--with leaving him behind and disguising him; then, in a clever resolution, Doris stumbles upon a way to make Frankie cool ("Ooh! Is that a puppet?!"). Amusing illustrations of toddler-looking jungle animals are full of emotive details.
189 pp.
| Tara
| April, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-93-83145-12-6$18.95
(2)
4-6
Translated by Carol Della Chiesa.
Illustrated by
Swarna Chitrakar.
Edited by V. Geetha. Della Chiesa's excellent 1925 translation of Collodi's 1883 classic is trimmed to about half its original length for a well-paced version of the unruly marionette's adventures. This handsome Indian edition features traditional Patua scroll paintings; stylized compositions are made eloquent by energetic slashes of black line and a rich palette. A curious cross-cultural matching of art and iconic tale.
161 pp.
| Scholastic/Levine
| March, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-72607-8$17.99
(3)
YA
Translated by Marian Schwartz.
Grisha spends his time in the Moscow puppet theater where his parents work, a refuge from his homophobic classmates. He's in awe of Sam, a young actor, but Sam is leaving Russia and Grisha is dejected. Grisha's first-person, present-tense narrative voice is graceful and dreamlike. This story of unrequited love showcases the dramatic arts as means of self-expression and self-discovery.
218 pp.
| Abrams/Amulet
| August, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-0933-3$13.95
(3)
4-6
The final episode featuring the McQuarrie Middle School crew finds the friends on a field trip to Washington, DC. But the trip is in trouble before it begins when Principal Rabbski institutes a "No Origami rule." Angleberger nicely concludes the mystery of Origami Yoda with an ending that will make readers feel as though they are maturing along with the characters.
198 pp.
| Abrams/Amulet
| March, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-1052-0$13.95
(3)
4-6
Origami Yoda series.
The FunTime Menace (a deadly boring test prep program) is still wreaking havoc at McQuarrie Middle School in the sixth book in the series. The only way to abolish FunTime is to get Principal Rabbski on the side of the Rebellion, but the Origami Rebel Alliance will have to risk everything to win her over. Angleberger continues to develop authentic and engaging voices in these "case files."
(2)
K-3
Photographs by
Ken Hannon.
Photographs edited by Rich Entel. Bryan presents photos and poems for a selection of the puppets he has made from found materials (driftwood, cloth, bones) for nearly sixty years. Each poem is told in the first person and titled with the puppet's name (drawn from various African cultures). Bryan's strong storytelling voice sometimes gives way to tacked-on lessons, but the puppets' artistry is enough to forgive small flaws.
Reviewer: Lolly Robinson
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
July, 2014
218 pp.
| Abrams/Amulet
| August, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-0858-9$12.95
(3)
4-6
Origami Yoda series.
McQuarrie Middle School's test scores have gone down, and Principal Rabbski is taking away electives in favor of math basics, delivered through a mind-numbing video series called FunTime. Dwight, Tommy, and friends form a scheme to get rid of the "FunTime Menace" by enlisting students to commit to failing the test. Playful cartoon drawings and pop culture references abound.
32 pp.
| Viking
| June, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-670-01334-0$16.99
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Hyewon Yum.
Gramma visits bringing a surprise "Hooray Parade" (a puppet show) for her granddaughter. The simple query "Can you guess what's coming next?" prompts an elephant, monkey, and other puppetry whose shadows prance across the makeshift stage illustrated with warm watercolor and linoleum block prints. The sometimes-awkward rhymed text, however, stymies the narrative flow.
202 pp.
| Abrams/Amulet
| August, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-0392-8$12.95
(3)
4-6
The third wacky, doodle-embellished Origami Yoda book finds the kids of McQuarrie Middle School soldiering on without Dwight and Origami Yoda's advice. Then Sara brings in a paper fortuneteller in the shape of Chewbacca. Tommy, Kellen, and Harvey try to get to the bottom of Fortune Wookiee and figure out why Dwight's acting way too normal at his new school.
149 pp.
| Simon
| August, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4424-2751-8$15.99
(4)
4-6
Pino is now a real boy, working as an apprentice to his woodcarver papa, Geppetto. When it is discovered that Pino can bring wood to life (though at great personal cost), others attempt to exploit his talent, forcing Pino and Geppetto to flee for their lives. Set post–Collodi's Pinocchio, this is a dark tale of self-realization worthy, despite a didactic ending, of its source.
(4)
1-3
Zeke Meeks series.
Illustrated by
Josh Alves.
This series follows Zeke Meeks as he navigates the trials and tribulations of third grade. Whether playing with his best friend, Hector, or defying his arch-nemesis, Grace Chang, Zeke takes it all in stride. Witty first-person narration and comic illustrations document Zeke finding his rhythm, but overt messages about the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle detract from the stories. Review covers these Zeke Meeks titles: Zeke Meeks vs the Horrifying TV-Turnoff Week and Zeke Meeks vs the Putrid Puppet Pals.
384 pp.
| Candlewick
| August, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-5380-4$17.99
(2)
4-6
Lizzie Rose and Parsefall, two Victorian waifs living under the guardianship of crook/magician/puppeteer Grisini, cross paths with cosseted Clara. This meeting results in a kidnapping, the magical imprisonment of Clara in puppet form, and encounters with aging witch Cassandra. Schlitz takes the conventions of melodrama and fleshes them out with toothsome scene setting and surprising, original character details.
Reviewer: Sarah Ellis
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2012
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| October, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-6247-9$16.99
(3)
K-3
An omniscient narrator explains that Oliver, who "felt a bit different," nevertheless lives "happily, with his friends." The subdued pencil and digitally colored illustrations show those "friends" to be hand puppets, intimating his loneliness. This deeply felt and ultimately uplifting book will be a gift to children who feel like Oliver--and illuminating to those who know someone like him.
278 pp.
| HarperCollins/Harper
| March, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-197608-7$16.99
(3)
4-6
When evil Archduke Arnulf sets out to marry, then murder, twelve-year-old Angela Gabriela von Schwanenberg, the spunky young countess concocts first a death-ruse, and then a perilous journey to Peter the Hermit to foil him. Hans, a grave robber's apprentice, aids her and discovers his own secret past along the way. Stock adventures and stereotyped characters are refreshed and stylized in this vivid and compelling work.