Tess, Terrorists, and the Tiara

Tess, Terrorists, and the Tiara by Terry Baldwin (Middleton Books, 2012, 135pp.)

Fifty years ago, Tess’s grandmother became the last winner of the Miss Land of the Free pageant. Today, Grandma’s health is declining due to Alzheimer’s. Deciding to make the most of her remaining years of cognizance, Grandma decides to give her diamond tiara - the one she was crowned with - to her granddaughter. The problem is, she has two: Tess, 13, and Brianna, 16. In order to make the decision fair, she and Grandpa invite the sisters to participate in a contest during their summer visit. Whoever earns enough “Helpful Points” before school starts will win the tiara.

Poor Tess thinks her chances of winning are dismal. Her pretty older sister is smart and competent, while Tess, on the other hand, has been described by friends and family as sweet but scatter-brained, constantly distracted by an over-active imagination. Here is where the story incorporates not only “Tess” and the “Tiara,” but “Terrorists” as well. After reading an article in National Geographic about the frightening, misogynist nature of Muslim extremists, Tess notices one of the neighbors clad head-to-toe in a dark cloak, and recognizes it from the article as a burka. Putting two and two together, Tess fears that the neighbors are terrorists who are targeting her grandmother - Miss Land of the Free herself!

Baldwin’s short novel isn’t not so much about a girl encountering a different culture or religion as it is a cautionary tale about judging people at face value. It’s certainly a nice message to teach children. However, I feel that the story would have been better served if it had shown Tess exploring another culture’s traditions and values than simply act as an exercise in tolerance. Recommended for Ages 9-13.

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This review can also be found on my YA review site.

Plenty of Magic to Go Around

The Aviary by Kathleen O’Dell (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2011, 352pp.)

In 1855, six children from a wealthy New England family, the Glendoveers, were kidnapped for ransom. When their kidnapper’s getaway boat was capsized during a storm, the children drowned - all except for the baby, Elliot, who was never found. Decades later, their grieving mother lies on her deathbed in their old family home, cared for by a housekeeper and her daughter, 12-year-old Clara. Entrusted with the care of Mrs. Glendoveer’s aviary, young Clara is, at first, unnerved by the noisy birds. But when one of the birds keeps calling out the name “Elliot”, she becomes curious. When she learns of the family’s tragic history, she decides to solve the mystery of the missing child’s whereabouts. Despite the children’s morbid demise by drowning, this turns out to be a lovely story. I definitely have to say that with its creative premise and strong heroine, it’s got plenty of magic to go around. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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A Nice Introduction to Marie Curie

Marie Curie by Leonard Everett Fisher (Atheneum, 1994, 32pp.)

Black and white acrylic paintings illustrate this overview of the life of Marie Curie, Nobel Prize winner in both Physics and Chemistry. A nice introduction for children - and certainly one to show girls interested in science - but not really a book you want to reach for at Story Time. Recommended for Ages 8-10.

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A Fine, Poetic Picture Book with Lovely Artwork

When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson, the Voice of a Century by Pam Munoz Ryan, Illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press, 2002, 40pp.)

A beautifully illustrated biography of Marian Anderson, an African-American singer from Philadelphia. Inspired to study opera after seeing a performance of Madama Butterfly, Anderson was a prodigal student who found her journey repeatedly blocked by racial barriers. The most powerful scene in the book depicts her 1939 performance at the Lincoln Memorial: Marian stands in the far distance, while a mixed race audience sits together listening in the forefront. The author quotes lyrics from Anderson’s songs to accompany Selnick’s acrylic sepia-toned paintings, which makes for a fine, poetic picture book. Recommended for Ages 4-8.

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Degas and the Dance

Degas and the Dance: The Painter and the Petits Rats, Perfecting Their Art by Susan Goldman Rubin (Harry N. Abrams, 2002, 32pp.)

The Impressionist painter Edgar Degas (1834-1917) is best known for his pastel and oil paintings of ballet dancers at practice. Rubin’s book focuses on these ballet paintings and describes the artists’ techniques. In addition to displaying over thirty full-color paintings, the book also gives brief biography, but otherwise offers little to no insight into who Degas was as a person. Recommended for Ages 7-10.

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Short But Charming

Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst, Illus. Lane Smith (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010, 113pp.)

Lulu is a spoiled brat who is used to getting what she wants. If someone tells her NO, she simply throws a tantrum until the other person submits to her demands. Her poor parents are used to this behavior and usually give her whatever she wants--except for one thing. When Lulu announces on her birthday that she wants a brontosaurus for a present, her parents flatly refuse. So Lulu decides to go looking for one on her own. Viorst’s tale is short but charming, and works in perfect unison with Lane Smith’s illustrations. It is divided into brief chapters, but with its artwork and dialog, could work as a picture book to read to school children during Story Time. Recommended for Ages 6-8.

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An Informative But Slow-Moving Portrait of Tribal Life in East Africa

Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation by Jan Reynolds (Lee & Low Books, 2011, 40pp.)

Reynolds’ book gives a brief overview of the lifestyle of the Maasai, a tribe that lives in Eastern Africa. Although the book is informative, providing us with information on tribal traditions, food, and the different roles of men and women, the text seemed to wander through its subject, and would have been better presented in categorical sections. The author wraps up the book nicely by mentioning the Maasai’s remarkable resilience and ability to adapt in the face of change in the modern world. Also included is a glossary and pronunciation guide of the tribe’s language, as well as providing two websites with additional information about the Maasai. Recommended for Ages 4-8.

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A Short But Sweet Look at a Mother and Son

Love Twelve Miles Long by Glenda Armand, Illus. by Colin Bootman (Lee & Low Books, 2011, 32pp.)

Frederick Douglass, one of American history’s great orators and writers, was born a slave. When he was sent to live on a plantation twelve miles away, his mother made this journey on foot under the cover of night to visit her son. This lovely picture book presents an imagined conversation between Frederick and his mother, who tells him about her journey to visit him. The paintings are nothing remarkable, but nicely illustrate the story. A short biography of Douglass is included in the Afterward. Recommended for Ages 4-8.

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A Unique (If Somewhat Limited) Opportunity for Children to Learn about Tibetan-American Culture

Tashi and the Tibetan Flower Cure by Naomi C. Rose (Lee & Low Books, 2011, 40pp.)

Tashi, a young American girl, has grown up listening to her Tibetan-born grandfather (referred to as “Popola,”) talk about the land where he was born. One of the old beliefs, he tells her, is that the pollen from flowers has medicinal properties; if you sit downwind from flowers and let yourself be “dusted” by their pollen, you will be cured of any ailment. When Popola falls ill, Tashi knows that she will need many flowers to cure him. She finds a flower nursery and explains her problem to the kind owner, who agrees to let Popola sit and relax among his flowers. Soon, the nursery’s other patrons notice the ailing man, and it becomes a community effort to help Tashi’s grandfather get better. This feel-good story about grandfathers and granddaughters is pretty much like any other, but with one exception: the heroine’s ancestry provides a unique (if somewhat limited) opportunity for children to learn about Tibetan-American culture. Includes glossary and explanatory notes on Tibet’s culture, and the lives of Tibetan immigrants in the United States. Recommended for Ages 4-8.

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A Child-Friendly Account of Bravery During the Holocaust

Irena’s Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan, Illus. by Ron Mazellan (Lee & Low Books, 2011, 40pp.)

The picture book biography of Irena Sendler, a young social worker who joined the underground effort to smuggle Jews out of Poland’s Warsaw ghetto after learning that the Nazis were sending families to the Treblinka extermination camp. As a member of the secret organization Zegota, Irena found homes for Jewish children in Christian homes and gave them new identities. Prompted by parents’ concerns about being reunited with their children, she wrote each child’s real name and “new” name on paper and stored them in jars that she buried in a friend’s back yard. There are some moments that may be unsettling for younger children, specifically when a Nazi guard threatens to shoot a barking dog, and it’s mentioned that Irena was imprisoned, beaten, and tortured by the Gestapo before narrowly escaping a firing squad in 1943. Mazellan’s oil paintings, especially his dark-toned ghetto scenes, nicely compliment this otherwise child-friendly account of bravery during the Holocaust. Contains a glossary and pronunciation guide, and a list of author’s sources. Recommended for Ages 6-8.

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Running Away From Home Has Never Been Such Fun

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (1967; Atheneum, 2007, 176pp.)

Young Claudia is ready for the adventure of a lifetime, but nothing exciting ever happens to her. So she decides to set her own adventure in motion by running away from home. Her destination? New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. With little brother Jamie at her side, this pair of crafty siblings infiltrate the museum, and soon become embroiled in a mystery that baffles museum officials and visitors alike. Claudia and Jamie are eager to help, but how can they provide answers without giving away the fact that they’re living in the museum? This fast-paced coming of age classic features a unique premise that will grab the attention of young readers and adults alike. Konigsburg’s young duo are smart and sympathetic, and their plan to sneak into the Metropolitan after lights out is so calculated and believable that even the most jaded readers will be hooked.

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Sassy Saves the School Play (and the Environment) from Disaster (Sort of)

The Silver Secret (Sassy #3) by Sharon M. Draper (Scholastic Press, 2010, 112pp.)

Sassy’s school puts on a recital about the importance of environmental conservation and keeping the Earth clean. Sassy desperately wants to be on stage, but since she can’t sing or dance, the music teacher puts her in charge of whole production as stage manager. The “silver secret” of the title refers to Sassy’s piccolo, which she is learning to play with a private tutor. Fearful that she won’t be good at this instrument, she initially decides to keep her progress a secret from her friends, but later reveals her talent to much admiration from her classmates. In the end, Sassy saves the day by performing “What a Wonderful World” on her piccolo when one of the soloists originally planned to perform the song gets sick before the big performance. Although environmentalism is mentioned in the story (a list of “How You Can Help” ideas is included), the real narrative focuses on Sassy’s job as stage manager, her piccolo playing, and a brief but pointless side plot where she loses her favorite shoulder-bag (dubbed by all as her “Sassy sack”), only to recover it a chapter later. Sadly, conservation only plays only a minor role in the story. One of the scenes meant to educate the reader the kind of recycled or organic products available on market takes place at the mall in a store that specializes in such items as--but not limited to--water filters, energy-saving lightbulbs, purses made from recycled plastic bottles and organic dog food. One of Sassy’s friends even goes so far as to make a statement about harmful “chemicals and additives” that can be found in non-organic foods (96). Draper fails to adequately explain this line of dialog to the reader, which presents a problem: unless a teacher or parent reads this book with a child and then leads a discussion about the differences between organic and processed foods, how are grade-schoolers even going to know what “additives” are? In regards to the “ideas” list, it leaves much to be desired. Aside from helpful suggestions to use only recyclable products, plant a garden, write letters to your Congressman, etc., it prompts children to “use online resources” to find out more information, but doesn’t even bother to list any kid-friendly sites. The Silver Secret? A nice story for grade-school girls, perhaps, but not especially helpful in the classroom. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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Nice Way to Teach Kids About Hurricanes and Marine Wildlife

The Birthday Storm (Sassy #2) by Sharon M. Draper (Scholastic Press, 2009, 112pp.)

Sassy and her family travel to Florida to throw a birthday party for her grandmother, only to learn that a hurricane is heading straight for Grammy’s house on the beach. In addition to this, Sassy finds a nest of sea turtle eggs in danger of being swept out to sea by the storm. Can Sassy save both the party and the baby sea turtles from disaster? The story serves as a platform to teach children about the proper response to situations like those found in the book (how to help endangered wildlife, how to prepare for a hurricane), as well as show how families can think of new ways to have fun, even when plans don’t go as expected. Includes information about sea turtles and hurricanes. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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A Touching Portrait of Homesickness and Longing

My Havana: Memories of a Cuban Boyhood by Rosemary Wells with Secundino Fernandez, Illus. Peter Ferguson (Candlewick, 2010, 72pp.)

Writer Rosemary Wells and Cuban-born architect Secundino Fernandez have teamed up to chronicle the events of his childhood. The young “Dino” depicted in these pages is a remarkable little boy. Even from an early age, he is in love with Havana’s buildings, taking note of the colors and architectural quirks that make these places special. When he and his family move from Cuba twice during his childhood, first to Spain to care for a sick relative, and lastly to the US to flee Castro’s dictatorship, it is not without a sense of mourning. What makes the story so poignant is its emphasis on homesickness and longing, reminding the reader of things they may take for granted. Ferguson’s vibrant oil paintings only add to this rich experience. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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Discovering Cultural Roots

Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes (Chronicle Books, 2010, 224pp.)

Twelve-year-old Izzy is sent to spend the summer in New Mexico with her grandmother, where she discovers her cultural roots and learns about her heroic father, who died before her birth. Although the plot proves to be average at best (as well as a little predictable), Cervantes’s novel delivers a nice message on the power of love, and provides an interesting glance into Hispanic culture. Izzy witnesses a fiesta in honor of her grandmother’s friend’s birthday, and her grandmother herself teaches her the art of tortilla-making. The author also includes recipes for tortillas and a glossary of Spanish words used in the story. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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Solid Coming-of-Age Tale Set in Elizabethan London

Alchemy and Meggy Swann by Karen Cushman (Clarion Books, 2010, 167pp.)

Sharp-tongued Meggy doesn’t make friends easily. How can she, especially since most people don’t even bother to look past her crippled legs? When her father, whom she has never met, calls her to London to serve as an assistant in his alchemical work, he is disappointed by her limited range of motion. But what she lacks in physical strength, she more than makes up for in quick-wittedness, loyalty, and perseverance. Meggy’s story is an inspiring one. Despite her handicap, she learns to depend on her inner strengths and proves that she has a great deal more to offer than at first glance. Cushman brings Elizabethan London to life for the reader, and also provides a helpful historical note and bibliography for those who are curious to learn more about this time in history. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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A Great Read About Mothers, Daughters, and Racial Identity

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia (Amistad, 2010, 224pp.)

Delphine doesn’t know what to expect when she and her two little sisters fly cross-country in the summer of 1968 to visit Cecile, the mother who left them years earlier. Cecile, a dedicated poet, considers the girls an unwanted distraction, and sends them to attend a summer camp run by the Black Panthers. The story of this unforgettable summer isn’t just a tale of a mother and her daughters, but of a child rediscovering and embracing her racial identity. Lyrical prose and fully-explored characters make this an excellent read for any age. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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As Disappointing As It Seems

As Simple As It Seems by Sarah Weeks (HarperCollins, 2010, 192pp.)

Verbena Colter is in for the shock of her life when, at age 11, she discovers that she was adopted as a baby after her alcoholic mother gave her up, and the reason for her trouble learning to read is because she suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome. How can she stay as her mother’s “Sweetpea” when she knows that she’s no longer the person she thought she was? While it’s a nice story that charts a young girl’s growth after a life-changing event, Weeks choses to use fetal alcohol syndrome as a plot device to initiate Verbena’s self-doubt and introspection rather than make it the focus of the book. This in itself would have been very interesting, and while the hero’s journey is certainly a worthy cause to write about, in this case, it doesn’t leave much to the imagination. The first-person “voice” of the narrative is also a little disappointing. Although we learn at the end that Verbena is recounting her childhood years as an adult, the mature tone doesn’t quite fit the overall story, making the prose ring a little false. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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Flawed Read About Young Royalty

Mary, Queen of Scots: Queen Without a Country (The Royal Diaries) by Kathryn Lasky (Scholastic, 2002, 202pp.)

This fictional diary chronicles the adventures of twelve-year-old Mary Stuart (Queen of Scots) during her childhood in France living with her future husband and in-laws. Unfortunately, the events that made Mary an important figure in history happened much later in her life, leaving Lasky to scrounge around to fill the pages. The narrative is episodic and somewhat plodding, with Mary’s shrewish soon-to-be mother-in-law Catherine de Medici serving as the primary villain. Catherine’s villainies, which include exhibiting a bad temper and rifling through Mary’s personal papers for a reason not readily apparent to the rest of us, are appropriate for a children’s book, but don’t seem to really ever come to a head. That said, this makes Mary’s reaction, to act like a true queen and forgive Catherine for her scheming, a bit late in coming. However, it is especially interesting to note, the author’s pointed irony in having her heroine learn a very important lesson: that the best decisions come from time and contemplation, not impulse (historically, Mary Stuart’s greatest flaw was her impulsive nature). A flawed read with some redeeming qualities for young girls interested in the lives of princesses. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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A Lovely Collection of Short Fiction

Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast: Stories by Jane Yolen (Harcourt Brace Books, 1997, 192pp.)

Jane Yolen presents twelve very fine fantasy stories aimed at juvenile readers. In “Tough Alice,” our Wonderland heroine must rely on her wits in order to get the better of the fearsome Jabberwocky. “Mama Gone” tells an eerie tale of a young girl who seeks to put her vampire mother’s soul to rest. A family finds new beginnings on a relative’s farm after a phoenix’s fiery rebirth destroys their apartment building in “Phoenix Farm.” Now that violence is part of New York City’s past, its denizens go “Wilding” to satisfy their cravings for danger in this futuristic tale of the same title. “The Babysitter” is a creepy story about a haunted house, a babysitter, and one Halloween night. The final entry is a brilliant twist on Peter Pan, the Nebula-winning novella “Lost Girls,” where Darla finds herself a prisoner of the Lost Boys in a Neverland where Captain Hook, an advocate of women’s rights, is the least of her worries. A lovely collection of short tales to be enjoyed by young and old alike. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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You Can’t Go Wrong with Avi

Midnight Magic by Avi (Scholastic, 1999, 249pp.)

It’s 1491, Renaissance Italy. When Mangus the Magician and his loyal servant, Fabrizio, are enlisted to banish a ghost haunting the royal family, they soon learn that there’s more at stake than just their lives—the entire fate of the kingdom rests in their hands as well! As usual, you can’t go wrong with Avi. Vividly drawn characters and a labyrinthine plot with more than a few twists and turns prove this to be a light, fun thriller from one of the masters of young adult and children’s literature. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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A Truly Magical Film

Kiki’s Delivery Service. Dir. Hayao Miyazaki. 1989. 103 min. Rated G.

The film starts at the beginning of a journey. As dictated by traditional custom, young Kiki is granted independence at the age of thirteen so she may begin the year-long training away from home to cement her status as a bona fide witch. She leaves behind her loving parents and small town and relocates herself to a large city, which (though nonexistent) has distinctly European features. However, she soon learns that the rules of the city (and life) are not quite as she imagined.

Eiko Kadono, author of the book on which the film is based, and Hayao Miyazaki, the screenwriter and director, are both Japanese. Although the film takes place in a made-up world, it can be said that those who craft the film leave their own mark on the story, demonstrating the proper values thought important. Kiki demonstrates the archetypal Japanese trait of showing respect for her elders.

Since she has no special talents (except for flying on a broom, which she does haphazardly at best), her training consists of learning how to support herself, which she accomplishes by establishing an air delivery service (via broomstick). Kiki’s growth as a character evolves through her interaction with her customers. At least three of her female customers act as second mothers, aiding her in the gradual transition from the sheltered childhood she knows into the reality of young adulthood. This supportive network of parental-substitutes allows Kiki, and young viewers, as well, to explore her new environment safely. Kiki’s work ethic is impressive in a child so young. She earns the respect of adults through her earnest and diligent behavior. She also learns that items she took for granted before (food, cooking implements) cost money and can be somewhat expensive. She cooks and cleans for herself, and finds herself scrimping when money is low. Although she longs to own nice clothes, she notices that even the price on a pair of shoes she admires in a store window is equal to, or more than, the amount she spends on groceries alone.

Even though Kiki serves as a role model towards young children, she also stands as a figure they can empathize with. She has the same doubts and disappointments as everyone else. Her stay in the city, for example, doesn’t begin as well as she had hoped. The city is not warm and inviting like her hometown. Her attempts to introduce herself to strangers are at first met with indifference. She is insulted when an incredulous hotel desk clerk doesn’t believe her when she asks to rent a room without her parents present. “No one seems to like witches in this town,” she observes sadly. Her sense of alienation is present whenever she is around children her age. When her new friend (and love interest) Tombo introduces her to his usual gang of friends, she finds herself unable to relate to them. She feels herself to be “an outsider.” Her insecurities and failed self-confidence affects her ability to do magic: she can no longer fly a broomstick, and she can no longer communicate with her black cat, Jiji. She feels lost without the very thing that makes her feel special. Her host family and friends give her the emotional support she needs to regain her self-confidence. It is put to the ultimate test when she is the only one who can save Tombo, who is dangling from a rope attached to a runaway dirigible and faces certain death if he falls.

Kiki’s Delivery Service is a sweet, lovely film about what happens when life disrupts our preconceived notions, and the sense of loss and insecurity which takes place after. The pacing is sometimes slow and methodical that might not work with younger elementary students. With its discussion of teenage independence, it will probably have the most developmental impact for children in their preteens. Recommended for Ages 9-12, this is also a film that parents, too, can appreciate.

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As Annoying As It Is Sparkly

Little Sister is NOT My Name! (Sassy #1) by Sharon M. Draper (Scholastic Press, 2009, 102pp.)

Nine-year-old, pint-sized Sassy has big problems. As the youngest (and smallest) of three children, she is so short that she can’t reach things on high shelves without difficulty. Not only that, but her well-meaning family can’t seem to remember how much she hates the nickname “Little Sister.” It is only after her family is stuck in an elevator between floors, and she is the only one small enough to slip through the doors to go for help, that she feels that she has proved her worth. Yet Draper’s otherwise admirable attempt to buoy the self-image of vertically challenged children is sadly undermined by the glittery, brand-naming gusto of its own protagonist. Armed with her fashionably decorated “Sassy Sack,” a combination backpack/emergency kit that seems to contain everything but a cardiac defibrillator, the self-assured Sassy wins the respect of both teachers and classmates for always having the right supplies at the right time. With more fashion-sense and admirers than the average third-grader, Sassy has little else to recommend her to the position of underdog. Nevertheless, the “wish-fulfillment” quality of the story, bound in a sparkly cover that features its protagonist flanked by her culturally diverse array of friends, should appeal to most nine-year-old girls. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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A Story As Sweet As Its Title

Strawberry Hill by Mary Ann Hoberman (Little, Brown and Company, 2009, 230pp.)

Miserable that she must leave her best friend behind when her family moves to another city, fourth-grader Allie finds herself in the uncomfortable situation of having to make new friends. The contrasting development of the two prospective new friends, the unpopular school “crybaby” Mimi, and the more appealing but ultimately fickle Martha, exposes Allie to the sometimes troubling complications that often accompany friendships. Set during the Depression Era, Strawberry Hill sends an important message to young female readers about unconditional loyalty and the importance of staying true to yourself in the face of peer pressure. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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Origin-Story of Literal-Minded Ninny Fails to Impress

Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School by Herman Parish, Illus. Lynne Avril (Greenwillow Books, 2009, Unpaged)

This book chronicles the literal-minded Amelia Bedelia’s first day at school. Her humorous misadventures are sure to be somewhat entertaining: her teacher tells her to glue herself to her seat, the bus driver tells her to jump off the bus, the librarian encourages her to bury her nose in a book, all of which she interprets literally. While it is an admirable effort, and not a bad picture book by any means, it certainly isn’t a dazzling one either. The situations that the author chose for Amelia Bedelia to misinterpret are predictable and not really that interesting. Compared to the original series, Amelia Bedelia the child is not nearly as compelling as Amelia Belia the adult. Recommended for Ages 4-8.

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Look Out, Beatles Fans: Lucy's No Longer in the Sky with Diamonds...

Lucy Long Ago: Uncovering the Mystery of Where We Came From by Catherine Thimmesh (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009, 63pp.)

An earth-shattering discovery in Ethiopia rocked the anthropological world when scientists unearthed the skeleton of a little creature whose like had never been seen before. A mere 3.2 million years ago, the skeleton dubbed “Lucy” had walked on two legs, and defied all categorization scientists had made thus far—was she an early ancestor of man or ape? How did she live? What did she look like? This beautifully designed and informative picture book is eloquent in its treatment of the subject. The author lays out, step by step, the process that takes place when handling field work. The only complaint one can make is the lagging pace of the material towards the end: it provides a satisfying conclusion, but younger readers or those with short attention spans might lose interest. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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Ghastly Murder Provides For Rich Listening Experience

The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket, Illus. Carson Ellis, Music by Nathaniel Stookey (HarperCollins Publishers, 2009, Unpaged)

The Composer is dead, and someone, according to the Inspector, must be held accountable. From the creator of A Series of Unfortunate Events comes this unique and fresh examination of musical performance. While the book can be read on its own, it is accompanied by a recorded narration performed by none other than Lemony Snicket himself. As the Inspector accuses each section of murder, the Instruments (played beautifully by the San Francisco Symphony) defend themselves using an eloquent combination of speech and classical music. However, as daring as this work is, the musical breaks between narration sometimes border on excessive length, and younger readers may lose interest. For the older child who has an appreciation for classical music, this is a rare treat indeed. Recommended for Ages 9-12.

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