Math Curse

Math Curse
     written by Jon Scieska and Lane Smith

 A student falls victim to the "Math Curse" when her teacher says "You can think of almost everthing as a math problem."


Suddenly, everything is exactly that...a math problem....until she finds a way to end the curse. Here's a wild and crazy book that addresses math anxiety and numbers in every day life.

The paintings, collage -like artwork, and stylized text add to the tempo and voice of the story and plotline, and help to build momentum as our child-narrator's anxiety and frustrations living with the math curse increases. So do the additions of math symbols, shapes, algorithms, designs, and calculations.

It's a great read aloud and even better book for us to talk about together!


ISBN: 0-679-86194-4

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
     written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson
REVIEW

This spiritual interpretation of the  story of Harriet Tubman is in three narrative voices, the narrator (events), Harriet (her prayers and faith), and God (sending strength to continue on). 

The story is told in lyrical text, stylized for each of the voices as they contribute on each page to the overall story.

Included in the author's note at the end of the book are details of the historical events and Harriet Tubman's life that also must be shared to fully appreciate this artistic biography.

Who said E-Everybody (also known as picture books) are only for the very young? Everyone at Bay Farm knows that my favorite section of the library is the Everybody section and this book is a beautiful example of why.

One reading is not enough, multiple readings with discussion is essential. If you don't believe me....take a peak at a book trailer I created  with Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" as a musical accompaniment.

But that's not the whole story....you have to read it to really know the beauty of this book with the haunting oil paintings of my newest favorite artist Kadir Nelson. He views his work in "Moses" as his most emotional work to date. Each page is a two-page illustration with close-ups for dramatic and emotional effect. The illustrations are dark and moody addressing the topic of running away, the journey at night and the desperation of the task. Kadir was concerned about darkness in a picture book, so he worked hard not to sugarcoat the experience but to also be mindful of the range of age of the reader. He won the Caldecott honor and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator award for this book for this book.


Moses from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

ISBN: 078685175-9

A is for Amazing Moments

A is for Amazing Moments
 written by Brad Herzog



Sportswriter Brad Herzog shares some of the greatest moments in sports from A-Z as part of an extensive and ever expanding series of ABC books for all ages, but especially for tweens and teens.

Each letter of the alphabet has an oil painting and caption to identify the defining word, event, or person, and in the margin of each page is the running commentary detailing the page in historical perspective.

See how well you really know your sports trivia but I guarantee that you'll walk away after reading this book with something new you didn't know before!

This book is for all sports fans...but don't stop here! We have a growing collection of these books from the alphabet series. Just take a look to see the titles you'll find in our library!

ISBN: 978-1-58536-360-5

Henry's Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box
     written by Ellen Levine

REVIEW

This is a true story in American history; the story of Henry "Box" Brown, one of the underground Railway's most famous runaway slaves. This picture book biography tells the story of how Henry Brown became a free man, no one's slave and celebrated his "birthday" March 30, 1849, the day he became free. Although it's an E-Everybody book, it is a story for all ages.

Henry lost his mother and family as a child. He later watched his own family sold away from him forever. He finally decided to escape to freedom, created an ingenios plan and with help and support was successful in his 350 mile escape.

Kadir Nelson created the illustrations using an old lithograph from the 1850s as his inspiration. He used crosshatched pencil lines with layers of applied watercolor and oil paint to achieve the look and feel of a lithograph in his illustrations.  He used cutaways to show the onboard ship travel while contained in a box.

Kadir won the Caldecott Honor for his work in 2008. His illustrations are easily recognizable for their emotion, strength and dignity of spirit. Watch the trailer...then read the book!

Think what courage it must have taken to escape to freedom!


ISBN: 978-0-439-77733-9


Henry"s Freedom Box from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

Wolves

Wolves
     written by Emily Gravett

REVIEW

Wolves  is one of my favorite "newer" picture books for all ages, but especially for tweens and teens who will appreciate the twisted nature of the story, the dry humor, and the artistic perspectives applied to telling a story well.

This was the first book written by the author in 2005. The subtle play on libraries, research, and reading make this book a great read-aloud when moving into research projects as a humorous "into" activity before discussing research techniques.

The book won several awards including the 2004 McMillan Prize, and the Nestle's Bronze Medal. The artwork is multimedia mix, charcoal pencil, and textured pictures with generous sprinkles of wit added throughout.

When Shel Silverstein's  "Runny Babbit" hit our shelves a few years back, we couldn't keep it in the library. Upper grades just ate up that book! This is going to be one of those tales, that truly has to be read! Now that I have a document reader, when reading this book out loud, in order to share all the nuances I think the technology will make this book an even better experience when "performed" live.

Take a look at the trailer for the book and see if you don't agree that you have to get your hands on this little picture book for maximum enjoyment!

ISBN: 9781416914914


Wolves from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
     written by A. Wolf and told to Jon Scieszka
     illustrated by Lane Smith

REVIEW

One of the most hilarious and twisted fairy tales ever told...and definitely not for the younger set.

But you have to read it for yourself...watching the trailer below is not enough...spend some time with this book's text, and absorb the wonderful illustrations by Lane Smith!

This fractured fairy tale has been cited in over 100 resources, reference, reviews, and books since it's publishing date of 1989. the illustrations are highly stylized, realistic, quirky with dark tones to match the mood of the story. The text is quick, smart, and witty, and challenging for older readers in responding to literature. It presents the ultimate in Spin Control, a worthy discussion as well as presenting the story from multiple perspectives and presenting a new slant on the famous tale we all know.

If you had been on the jury when A. Wolf presented his case, how would you have deliberated and decided on guilt and innocence?  Are we biased as a society because we have all heard the original telling of the events since we were small? It would be fun to discuss! Do you think that he could really have been framed?

Remember, picture books are all coded in our library as E...for Everybody...because they are...and this one is especially for you!

ISBN: 978-0140544510


The True Story of the Three Little Pigs from Roxanne Clement on Vimeo.