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(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Joy Fisher Hein.
Appelt covers major events in the life of Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Lyndon B. Johnson, focusing on the First Lady's lifelong love of wildflowers and her determination to beautify America with the passage of the Highway Beautification Act. Hein is more skillful at depicting landscapes than human figures, but overall the book is attractive and well written. Afterword, endnotes. Bib.
32 pp.
| Walker
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-8027-8937-4$16.95
|
LibraryISBN 0-8027-8938-2$17.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Julie Collins.
Ruby's instructive narration tells of her first surfing experience. She practices some moves, then takes to the waves with Dad riding on the back of her board. As with any beginner, Ruby experiences setbacks, but she conquers her fear to surf "the biggest, fastest, fiercest wave ever!" Cartoon-style art is colorful and hip. An author's note provides a history of surfing.
32 pp.
| Simon
| January, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-689-87625-4$12.95
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Ann James.
A young girl and her dog exhibit perfect compatibility as they go about their day. The girl lists the many ways she loves her furry friend; for example, "I love...the way you tell me things" as the dog eagerly eyes a ball. James captures the unabashed affection and understanding between the two with elegant but simple charcoal and watercolor images.
259 pp.
| Little
| May, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-316-73690-2$10.99
(4)
4-6
The four Callahan cousins spend the summer with their wealthy grandmother on a New England island. The girls are secretly determined to revive a dormant family rivalry, which involves them in learning to sail and researching family history. Although the author attempts emotional depth, the book is a superficial tale of preteens with a wish-fulfilling degree of freedom.
95 pp.
| HarperCollins
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-06-057921-8$11.99
|
LibraryISBN 0-06-057922-6$14.89 New ed.
(4)
1-3
Illustrated by
Carol Thompson.
Four of Cleary's picture books about twins Janet and Jimmy have been re-illustrated and bound together into one chapter book. Cleary's clear grasp of four-year-old humor turns shoe shopping, playing in the yard, and collecting into entertaining adventures. Younger readers, however, aren't going to have much interest in preschool antics.
40 pp.
| Harcourt
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-15-216771-4$16.00
(3)
K-3
Cyrus has created eye-catching underwater tapestries of marine life that accompany each rhyming and often funny verse: e.g., "All the spiny lobsters trust / The guy behind, because they must." A lonely sardine connects one spread to the next where text is often moving across the page to match the featured creature. Youngsters will enjoy finding camouflaged sea animals.
181 pp.
| Farrar
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-374-31257-5$16.00
(4)
4-6
Skeet Waters does a lot of growing up over a short spring break. He catches his first tarpon with a fly, he struggles with his parents' separation, and he discovers a murdered manatee. In solving the murder mystery, he learns he must look beyond physical evidence. A cheesy epilogue takes the spark out of this fiction.
(4)
PS
Mr. Snail asks the mouse, "Can you keep a secret?" When the mouse agrees, the secret is shared over and over again from mouse to beetle, beetle to turtle, etc., with all the garden creatures. There is no surprise when the secret comes full circle. The slight text operates as a vehicle to showcase the unusual art created with watercolors and a variety of materials.
40 pp.
| Kids Can
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 1-55337-547-5$12.95
|
PaperISBN 1-55337-548-3$5.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Pat Stephens.
Divided into sections such as mammals, sea life, and insects, information about the different ways, distances, seasons, and reasons for migration are dryly detailed. Specific animals are featured in each category for a closer look at their migrating patterns. Simple experiments help to explain the hows and whys of animal behavior. Serviceable art illustrates the book. Ind.
32 pp.
| Barefoot
| March, 2005
|
TradeISBN 1-84148-902-6$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Grazia Restelli.
In singsongy rhyme, two visitors spend a week roaming the Galápagos Islands. "On Thursday, skipping lava crabs, / With shells of brilliant red, / Find food that hides in ebbing tides / Across the lava bed." Colorful collages of cut paper and natural materials provide nearly tangible texture. Extensive endnotes about the Galápagos, animals pictured, and Charles Darwin are included.
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| January, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-7636-1960-4$12.99
(3)
PS
Lessac easily invites readers to count the activities on a small Caribbean island. "Five market ladies wearing shady hats. / Six cricket players waiting with their bats." A simple concept is clearly presented with large numerals, a vibrant tropical palette, and a carnival atmosphere to make this book lively and engaging.
242 pp.
| Viking
| March, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-670-05972-2$16.99
(3)
4-6
With eight siblings, a mother busy with a newborn, and an unemployed musician father, twelve-year-old Livy Two Weems takes on numerous responsibilities (including caring for her blind younger sister, Gentle) but finds time to compose mountain songs and get lost in books. Madden leavens the hardship of poverty in Appalachia with a joie de vivre the family maintains even through tragedy.
32 pp.
| Peachtree
| March, 2005
|
TradeISBN 1-56145-330-7$15.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Constance R. Bergum.
Both of Jessie's grandfathers are dead, then she meets Daniel, Grandpa Ray's old friend. When Daniel gently introduces Jesse to the wonders of nature during her summer holiday in the country, she asks, "Could I have three grandfathers?" Daniel replies, "Why not?" Pale watercolors, full of summer light, enhance this predictable story.
32 pp.
| Candlewick
| June, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-7636-2477-2$15.99
(3)
PS
Jack has a toy boat his uncle made for him, and he can't wait to sail it. But stormy weather delays the maiden voyage. When the sun reappears, Jack shoves off his vessel, but are the seas still too rough? Bright and summery paper-collage and gouache illustrations simply and artfully capture the boy's excitement and anticipation of a seaside adventure.
32 pp.
| Houghton/Lorraine
| March, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-618-47201-0$16.00
(3)
K-3
Friðrik, with blond hair and flushed cheeks, enjoys a day with each of his grandfathers fishing in Icelandic waters. In a thoughful text, readers learn how to identify a lumpfish and a cod as well as the different techniques for catching them. Crystal clear photos capture the dramatic coast as well as the warm relationships among three generations.
164 pp.
| Atheneum
| May, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-689-86555-4$15.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Alan Daniel.
In this accessible feline adventure, Marco and Polo's mother, who abandoned them as kittens, suddenly reappears. She and the other members of the Club of Mysteries challenge each other, fend off the neighborhood dog, and face off against a rival gang of cats. Lively black-and-white illustrations accompany the story. Cat lovers will enjoy this final installment in the series.
32 pp.
| Down East
| March, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-89272-653-9$15.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Emily Harris.
The love of the sea is hard to ignore for Annabel, who learned to sail in a little sloop she and her father built. Destined for larger boats and adventures around the world, she never forgets her beginnings, and she returns to Papa as captain of her own boat. Stiff narrative and figures detract from the lovely coastal landscapes.
32 pp.
| Kids Can
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 1-55337-721-4$14.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Martine Gourbault.
This approachable book uses a light touch to teach water safety. When a girl and her dragon friend play and swim at the beach, the dragon breaks a few rules but is steered gently in the right direction. While the pencil-crayon art is engaging, the text tries too hard to rhyme. A helpful checklist for parents is appended.
147 pp.
| Peachtree
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 1-56145-338-2$14.95
(3)
4-6
A readable format profiles twelve women athletes and one basketball team who overcame the odds. Rappoport skillfully creates suspense and immediacy by setting the scene for and telling the story of each woman's goal--swimming the English Channel, racing in the Iditarod, etc.--then detailing her life and training. This is an unassuming book that should inspire girls. Bib.
(4)
4-6
DK Readers series.
The stories of daring and bravery of single-handed sailors throughout history run side-by-side with technical information about navigation, nautical equipment, and weather. The book is careful to profile the feats of women, men, and children who are driven by the passion to sail alone. Although the sidebars sometimes distract from the main text, this is a solid introduction to the sport. Glos., ind.