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Night in the Barn-Faye Gibbons August 14, 2007

In the childhood adventure, Night in the Barn by Faye Gibbons, two brothers and their city cousins decide to spend the night in a barn. The oldest brother (”Bet you’re afraid…” So you ready?”) pushes the younger (”S-sure.”) to act braver than he really feels. So the adventure begins. This book is oozing with atmosphere from the dark and beautiful illustrations by Erick Ingraham to the “rustle…rustle” of the unknown and the “Oooooo” of the wind. When I read the book to students, they get completely caught up in the images and language and experience a little fearful anticipation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “Ah, I knew that was gonna happen.” and this, usually, from students who sat there mesmerized throughout the whole story. The ending is great fun and, well, thank you, Faye. Erick and, of course, Amos.

Night in the Barn
Written by Faye Gibbons
Illustrated by Erick Ingraham
Accelerated Reader RL 3.2

• Night in the Barn at Amazon
• Faye Gibbons-Biography

Mama, Do You Love Me? - Barbara M. Joosse August 13, 2007

Mama, Do You Love Me? written by Barbara M. Joosse is a charming book. (Note to self: Never use words like “charming”, “endearing”, “quaint”, “delightful”, “precious”. Self: Got it.) In the story a little Inuit girl is asking her Mother a series of up-the-ante questions about the limits of maternal love. “What if I put a salmon in your parka…?” “What if I turned into a polar bear?” And Mom: “… I would love you.” As the book’s setting is in the arctic, new words, sights, and dress are presented to the reader. The illustrations are (Be careful, here.) eye-catching and the blue shades perfect for the atmosphere they depict. Now a word of warning: This questioning little daughter will someday be a teenager. “Mama, would you still love me if I got a ticket for speeding the first time you let me drive the station wagon and didn’t tell you about it until “someone” how to shell out the fine?” “I’m thinking. I’m thinking.”

Mama, Do You Love Me?
Written by Barbara M. Joosse
Illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
Accelerated Reader RL 2.3

• Mama, Do You Love Me? at Amazon
• Barbara M. Joosse Home Sweet Homepage

Scribbleville - Peter Holwitz

Remember that Star Trek episode with the two guys chasing each other through time ad infinitum. They had a hatred that had lasted forever. Each had one-half of his body black and the other half white-right down the middle. Eventually it became clear (Was it Captain Kirk who glommed on it?) one was white on the left side and the other white on the right side. Then there were The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss. Some star-bellied, some not. Now, (Yea!) we have Scribbleville by Peter Holwitz. Interestingly in the town of Scribbleville everything and everyone is scribbled-”They have scribbled houses. They wear scribbled hats. They walk scribbled dogs…” Enter the straight guy (Hmm.).”Why would a man so straight and so slim want to live in a town where no one’s like him?” Well, love rears its scribbled and straight head and…”one was scribbled. One wasn’t. What does it matter? Mavbe it doesn’t!” It’s wonderfully done in rhyme with lots of scribbly and straight illustrations. Too bad those creatures from Star Trek hadn’t read Scribbleville when they were kids-it would saved such wear and tear on Captain Kirk’s jostled brain cells. Oh, try to read Peter Holwitz’s Stick Kid first; it’ll make your trip to Scribbleville ever so much better.
Scribbleville
Written and Illustrated by Peter Holwitz
Accelerated Reader RL 2.7

• Scribbleville at Amazon