Module 15: Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging

Rennison, L. (2000). Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. New York: Harper Collins.

Summary
In this light-hearted novel, Georgia relays her life in diary style. She talks of her crazy cat, her friend and family situation and her crush on a handsome older boy. With language filled with British colloquialisms (and even a glossary of terms in the back of the book), teens will enjoy this funny story about growing up.

My Impressions
This was not one of my favorite reads but still a fun, light book that teens may enjoy. Its witty passages reminded me of a teen's version of Bridget Jones's Diary. I was very surprised that this book has been challenged as the story seems pretty innocuous. While there is a disturbing aspect to this story, Georgia is only fourteen and the boy she loves is seventeen, the rest of the book is reflective of the normal antics of a teenager. Compared to many other books out there, this book is fairly tame. This was a book that I would compare to cotton candy. Fun to read in the short-term but with no real lasting taste or impression.

Professional Reviews
Gr 7-9-This is the hilarious Bridget Jones-like diary of 14-year-old Georgia, who has a rather wild cat named Angus, a three-year-old sister who pees in her bed, and a best friend who is in love with the vegetable seller's son. Georgia discusses kissing (snogging) lessons, which she needs because she has just met the "Sex God" of her dreams; what to wear to parties and school; and how to spy on your crush's girlfriend (this is where thongs come into play). In typical teen manner, Georgia lives in her own world; she thinks she is ugly, is convinced that her parents are weird, positively abhors schoolwork, and has a deep desire to be beautiful and older. Yet she still has time to enjoy the mad antics of her cat and indulge her odd but sweet sister. It will take a sophisticated reader to enjoy the wit and wisdom of this charming British import, but those who relish humor will be satisfied. Fresh, lively, and engaging. --School Library Journal, Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Aloha, OR, 2000. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 6^-9. American readers wondering what on earth "full-frontal snogging" is will find the answer in the helpful (and hilarious) glossary appended to this antic diary of a year in the life of an English girl named Georgia Nicolson. Snogging is, simply, "kissing with all the trimmings," and it's much on 14-year-old Georgia's mind these days. For even though she's still reeling from her devastatingly bad decision to go to a party dressed as a stuffed olive, she has fallen in love with an older man (he's 17), a Sex God named Robbie. The trouble is, S. G. is dating a girl named Lindsay who--brace yourself--wears a thong. Honestly, how wet (idiotic) can you get! In the meantime, life on the home front is spinning out of control. Dad has gone to New Zealand in search of a better job, and pet cat Angus, who can usually be spotted stalking the neighbor's poodle, has gone missing. Although performer and comedy writer Rennison clearly owes a large debt to Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary (1998), her Georgia is a wonderful character whose misadventures are not only hysterically funny but universally recognizable. This "fabbity, fab, fab" novel will leave readers cheering, "Long live the teen!" and anxiously awaiting the promised sequel. --Booklist, Michael Cart, 2000. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This would be a good book to recommend to teenage girls who enjoy a light read to distract them from their everyday problems. This is fun, escapist reading and fans of the Gossip Girl books will enjoy this book as well. And if they enjoy this book, they can continue reading about Georgia's adventures in subsequent novels.

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SLIS 5420/Module 15
Censorship Issues
December 6-9, 2010

Module 14: Burned

Hopkins, E. (2006). Burned. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Summary
Pattyn, the eldest of eight sisters in a strict Mormon family, rebels against her religion and her abusive father. Always smart and a voracious reader, Pattyn is disturbed by the violence in her home perpetrated by her alcoholic father. She begins rebelling at school and is sent to her aunt's house during the summer as a form of punishment. Instead of having a bad summer, she gains clarity about her home situation and finds love and support from her aunt and a handsome neighbor. Unfortunately though, she must return to her abusive home where things spiral out of control.

My Impressions
While I loved this books, especially the free floating verse, I was disappointed in some of the elements. It was a gritty story but I didn't understand why Pattyn didn't talk to her Aunt about her father's abuse. I know that Hopkins was trying to show the characteristics of a victim of profound and repetitive abuse, but I wished for more resolution at the end of the story. I did love the style of the book. The verse was not only lyrically written but Hopkins plays with text design to create mood on the page which made for some really thought-provoking text displays. This is a worthwhile book with a somewhat disappointing lack of closure.

Professional Reviews
Gr. 9-12. Full of anger at her father, an alcoholic who abuses her mother, Pattyn begins to question her Mormon religion and her preordained, subservient role within it. She is confused by her mother's acceptance of the brutal abuse, and although she is furious at and terrified of her father, she still longs for his love and approval. As the consequences of her anger become more dramatic, her parents send her to spend the summer with her aunt on a Nevada ranch. There she finds the love and acceptance she craves, both from her aunt and from a college-age neighbor, Ethan. Told in elegant free verse, Burned envelopes the reader in Pattyn's highs and lows, her gradual opening to love, and her bouts of rage, confusion, and doubt. It exposes the mind of the abused, but regrettably offers no viable plan to deal with the abuser, a reality perhaps, but a plot element that may raise eyebrows in the adult community. Still, this will easily find rapid-fire circulation among its YA audience. A troubling but beautifully written novel. --Booklist, Frances Bradburn, 2006. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr 9 Up-Once again the author of Crank (S & S, 2004) has masterfully used verse to re-create the yearnings and emotions of a teenage girl trapped in tragic circumstances. Poems in varied formats captivate readers as they describe a teen's immobilizing fear of her abusive father, disgust with a church hierarchy that looks the other way, hope that new relationships can counteract despair, joy in the awakening of romance, and sorrow when demons ultimately prevail. Pattyn Von Stratten is the eldest of eight sisters in a stern Mormon household where women are relegated to servitude and silence. She has a glimpse of normal teenage life when Derek takes an interest in her, but her father stalks them in the desert and frightens him away. Unable to stifle her rage, Pattyn acts out as never before and is suspended from school. Sent to live with an aunt on a remote Nevada ranch, she meets Ethan and discovers "forever love." Woven into the story of a teen's struggle to find her destiny is the story of her aunt's barrenness following government mismanagement of atomic testing and protests over nuclear waste disposal. Readers will become immersed in Pattyn's innermost thoughts as long-held secrets are revealed, her father's beatings take a toll on her mother and sister, and Pattyn surrenders to Ethan's love with predictable and disturbing consequences. Writing for mature teens, Hopkins creates compelling characters in horrific situations. --School Library Journal, Kathy Lehman, Thomas Dale High School Library, Chester, VA, 2010. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This is definitely a book that confronts multiple disturbing issues but it is also a compelling read. I would use this book for Reader's Advisory and recommend it to more mature teenage girls who are looking for novels where the main character faces adversity. I know that Hopkins' books have been challenged but I think she writes provocative stories about the problems that some teens face and that these novels really resonate with modern teens. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Hopkins books although I would advise the reader that her stories may be disturbing and that they shouldn't count on a happy ending.

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SLIS 5420/Module 14
Poetry and Story Collections
November 29-December 5, 2010

Module 13: Maus

Spiegelman, A. (1986). Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History. New York: Pantheon Books.

Summary
This is a tale about surviving the Holocaust as well as the story of a difficult father-son relationship between Art and his dad Vladek, a Holocaust survivor. Part 1 of this tale takes readers through Vladek's experiences in Poland leading up to his imprisonment with his wife in a concentration camp. Part 2 relates Vladek's time in the concentration camp and his eventual release.

My Impressions
This is a powerful and moving book with eloquent cartoons that depict Jews as mice and Nazis as cats. In fact each different nationality and type of person is depicted as animal characters in this tale. This is definitely a comic book for older, younger adult readers and even adults. The complexity of the father-son relationship that is told in present time with flashbacks to Vladek's experiences under the Nazi regime, make this a rich and complex book with no definitive heroes. Detailed illustrations make the comic panels come alive. I ended up reading both part 1 and part 2 because I wanted to know Vladek's full story. I would recommend that readers check out the complete volume as part 1 leaves us right at the beginning of Vladek's time in the concentration camp.

Professional Reviews
YA Told with chilling realism in an unusual comic-book format, this is more than a tale of surviving the Holocaust. Spiegelman relates the effect of those events on the survivors' later years and upon the lives of the following generation. Each scene opens at the elder Spiegelman's home in Rego Park, N.Y. Art, who was born after the war, is visiting his father, Vladek, to record his experiences in Nazi-occupied Poland. The Nazis, portrayed as cats, gradually introduce increasingly repressive measures, until the Jews, drawn as mice, are systematically hunted and herded toward the Final Solution. Vladek saves himself and his wife by a combination of luck and wits, all the time enduring the torment of hunted outcast. The other theme of this book is Art's troubled adjustment to life as he, too, bears the burden of his parents' experiences. This is a complex book. It relates events which young adults, as the future architects of society, must confront, and their interest is sure to be caught by the skillful graphics and suspenseful unfolding of the story. --School Library Journal, Rita G. Keeler, St. John's School , Houston, 1987. (Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Maus-Survivors-Father-Bleeds-History/dp/0394747232/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291738164&sr=8-1)

Suggested Use in Library
This would be a great book to recommend to students that come to the library looking for books on the Holocaust and concentration camps. It gives teens a more visually engaging and modern take on a historical time period that can oftentimes be overwhelming to read about in non-fiction form. This would also be a good book to use for a teen book talk. Definitely if this book is recommended, the librarian will have to highlight that the subject matter is quite serious and that the use of animals to depict different races is used to highlight the prejudices of the time period.

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SLIS 5420/Module 13
Graphic Novels and Series Books
November 15-20, 2010

Module 12: Harvesting Hope

Krull, K. (2003). Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. San Diego: Harcourt Inc.

Summary
Cesar Chavez's life comes alive in this biography about how he fought for the rights of migrant farm workers. Geared for younger children with illustrations by Montes, this book tells Chavez life story from when he was a child to an adult advocate for rights. Readers see that though Chavez was shy, he still stood up and spoke out for what he believed in.

My Impressions
I loved this book. I didn't know much about the life of Cesar Chavez before I read this book, which is what motivated me to pick up this biography. Not only is it beautifully written and illustrated, but the book is both educational and interesting. You are rooting for Chavez to win in his fight for better rights. The fact that he was able to start the National Farm Workers Association, a union that helps promote the rights of farm workers, is both impressive and understandable after reading this biography.

Professional Reviews
Gr. 2-4. When Cesar Chavez was 10 years old, drought forced his family to leave its Arizona ranch and move to California. The family became migrant workers, poorly paid and badly treated. As an adult, Chavez organized a nonviolent revolt, culminating in a 300-mile protest march that produced the first farmworkers' contract. Krull's language demonstrates a poetic sensibility (The eighty acres of their ranch were an island in the shimmering Arizona desert, and the stars were all their own. ), but the vocabulary will challenge young children, and a few socio-cultural details aren't made clear: some kids will wonder about the White Trade Only signs and why Chavez couldn't speak Spanish in school. But Morales' gorgeous paintings, with their rounded, organic forms and lush, gemstone hues, more than make up for glitches as they draw children deeply into an inspiring picture-book account of a young boy who grew up to change the world. --Booklist; Traci Todd; 2003. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr 3-6-The dramatic story of Chavez's 340-mile march to protest the working conditions of migrant farmworkers in California is the centerpiece of this well-told biography. Readers meet Chavez at his grandparents' home in Arizona where he lived happily amid a large extended family. His childhood was cut short when, due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to move to California to seek employment. After years of laboring in the fields, Chavez became increasingly disturbed by the inhuman living conditions imposed by the growers. The historic 1965 strike against grape growers and the subsequent march for "La Causa" are vividly recounted, and Chavez's victory-the agreement by the growers granting the workers better conditions and higher pay-is palpable. While sufficient background information is provided to support the story and encourage further research, focusing on one event makes the story appealing to younger readers. The text is largely limited to one side of a spread; beautifully rendered earth-toned illustrations flow out from behind the words and onto the facing page. A fine addition to any collection. --School Library Journal; Sue Morgan, Tom Kitayama Elementary School, Union City, CA; 2003. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
Because I live in California, we have a state holiday on March 31st which is Cesar Chavez Day. This book would be great to include in a library display to celebrate this holiday and commemorate the life of Chavez. It's also a wonderful book to read at a story time about great leaders or even a story time in honor of Cesar Chavez Day. This book may also lead to more discussion about the life and times of Chavez and his importance in California history.

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SLIS 5420/Module 12
Biography and Autobiography
November 8-14, 2010

Module 11: George Washington's Teeth

Chandra, D. & Comora, M. (2003). George Washington's Teeth. New York : Farrar Straus Giroux.

Summary
Narrated in verse, this tale tells of Washington's life-long struggle with his teeth. Over the years, Washington loses all his teeth and must deal with the embarrassment and pain of tooth decay as well as the discomfort and ill-fit of dentures made without modern technological advancements. This book is beautifully illustrated with an annotated timeline at the end of the story that shows Washington's tooth loss as well as excerpts from his letters and diaries. The timeline also shows pictures of his dentures.

My Impressions
I actually had no idea that Washington struggled with this problem throughout his life and leadership. Maybe this was something that we talked about briefly in history class, but it wasn't highlighted and this is definitely an interesting side to Washington. I really liked the historical facts at the end of the story verse. It was very interesting to read about how much money Washington spent on his dental woes throughout his lifetime and how it affected his diet and health. The pictures of the dentures he wore were also fascinating to look at and really showed the lack of dental technology in the past and how far we have come to not only combat tooth decay but to alleviate pain and fit people with more modern dentures today.

Professional Reviews
K-Gr 5-In 28 rhymed, four-line stanzas, Chandra and Comora tell the sad story of George Washington's teeth. Beginning with the onset of the Revolutionary War, the countdown takes poor George from just about a mouthful of painful, rotten teeth to a state of complete "tooflessness"-and then to a pair of entirely successful dentures. Cole's watercolor cartoon illustrations are just right, giving comic vent to George's despair, hopelessness, fevered attempts at finding his teeth, and final triumphant, toothy strut at a ball. A beautifully illustrated four-page time line shows portraits of the dentally challenged first president and photos of his homegrown, incredibly uncomfortable-looking dentures, made of gold and hippopotamus ivory. (Contrary to legend, Washington never had wooden ones.) Given that his death was probably hastened by an untreated infection from old root fragments in his gums, this is not only a historical treatise, but also a great lesson in dental hygiene. Paired with Laurie Keller's antic Open Wide: Tooth School Inside (Holt, 1998), it could be used as a real-life example of the havoc wreaked by bad teeth. With 17 sources listed as contributing to the art and dental information on the time line, this accurate and intriguing slice of history should find a place in any elementary library collection. --School Library Journal; Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA; 2003. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

K^-Gr. 3. Second only to kids' curiosity about George Washington and the cherry tree may be their interest in his teeth. Did the prez wear wooden dentures? Chandra and Comora set the record straight with wit, verve, and a generous amount of sympathy for poor Washington and his dental woes. Unfurling smoothly against a backdrop of Washington's career as soldier and president, the tale goes forward in sprightly, read-aloud rhyme that never falters: "Poor George has two teeth in his mouth / The day the votes came in. / The people had a President /But one afraid to grin." And illustrator Cole is at his absolute best here, totally at ease with human gesture and expression. Each spread is a tableaulike scene (or scenes) filled with costumed characters busily engaged in humorously visualizing the actual history. The color palette and energy of the art harks back to Cole's Buttons (1999), but there's much more detail and movement in these pictures, which work well as amusing preparation for the more sedately illustrated, annotated time line of George's dental decay that precedes a full roundup of historical sources the authors used in telling the tale. This is history for youngsters that will stick; it's wild and fun and factual, without a trace of mockery. --Booklist; Stephanie Zvirin, 2003. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

In a clever approach to history, Chandra and Comora string together spry stanzas describing the dental difficulties that plagued George Washington. Rhyming verse explains how the general's rotten teeth gradually fall out during the Revolutionary War: "George crossed the icy Delaware/ With nine teeth in his mouth./ In that cold and pitchy dark,/ Two more teeth came out!" Cole complements this verse by rendering a sly watercolor twist on Emanuel Leutze's famous painting George Washington Crossing the Delaware, in a full-spread treatment: Washington still stands in quiet dignity, but the boatmen are grinning. By the time Washington is elected president, just two teeth remain in his mouth. Kids will love the details, such as the way Washington uses a pair of his molars to fashion a mold from which the dentist makes a set of dentures (these are carved from hippopotamus ivory, and even shown, in a photograph in the afterword). Infusing his bustling watercolor vignettes with comic hyperbole, Cole easily keeps pace with the lighthearted narrative. One especially funny image shows the president sprawled on the floor, legs in the air, after viewing a newly painted portrait ("George stood up to have a look-/ He fell back on his fanny./ `It doesn't look like me!' he roared./ `It looks like Martha's granny!' "). An annotated timeline at the end includes quotes from the leader's letters and diaries chronicling his relentless efforts to hide his dental problems and the extent to which they caused him chronic pain and embarrassment. A highly palatable historical morsel. All ages. --Publishers Weekly, February 2002. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This book is a great lesson in the importance of dental hygiene and how this kind of pain can affect a person's life. Written for a young audience, I think this book would be well suited for a story time on either presidents' lives or the importance of teeth. I could also see this book being used to tell the story of George Washington to honor the Presidents Day holiday.

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SLIS 5420/Module 11
Informational Books
November 1-7, 2010

Module 10: Devil's Arithmetic

Yolen, J. (1988). The Devil's Arithmetic. New York: Viking.

Summary
Hannah, cynical about the tales of the Holocaust that survivors in her family tell, is magically transported back in time during a Passover celebration in 1988. She somehow ends up in 1942 Poland to find herself transformed into Chaya. As Hannah/Chaya she experiences life in Poland where she is captured by Nazis and lives in a concentration camp. She begins to lose her memories of Hannah's life and feels more and more like Chaya. She learns how to survive in the concentration camp but makes a decision at the end to spare her friends life by stepping forward into the gas chamber in her friend's stead. As she opens the door to her doom, she travels back to her humdrum Passover celebration that she now sees with new eyes of appreciation. Hannah now has a new understanding of the suffering of Holocaust victims and how lucky she is to have survivors in her family.

My Impressions
This was an amazing book. You really felt like you were living in Poland and experiencing what Hannah/Chaya did during her travels to the concentration camp and her brief time there. I found it a bit unsettling to never understand how the whole time travel/dream montage happened. But despite this unanswered question, Hannah's perspective on the Holocaust-- which initially consisted of a modern girl's cynical apathy and then changed to a real respect for the experience-- brings the history of the Holocaust to life.

Professional Reviews
Gr 4-8 In this novel, Yolen attempts to answer those who question why the Holocaust should be remembered. Hannah, 12, is tired of remembering, and is embarrassed by her grandfather, who rants and raves at the mention of the Nazis. Her mother's explanations of how her grandparents and great-aunt lost all family and friends during that time have little effect. Then, during a Passover Seder, Hannah is chosen to open the door to welcome the prophet Elijah. As she does so, she is transported to a village in Poland in the 1940s, where everyone thinks that she is Chaya, who has just recovered from a serious illness. She is captured by the Nazis and taken to a death camp, where she is befriended by a young girl named Rivka, who teaches her how to fight the dehumanizing processes of the camp and hold onto her identity. When at last their luck runs out and Rivka is chosen, Hannah/Chaya, in an almost impulsive act of self-sacrifice, goes in her stead. As the door to the gas chamber closes behind her, she is returned to the door of her grandparents' apartment, waiting for Elijah. Through Hannah, with her memories of the present and the past, Yolen does a fine job of illustrating the importance of remembering. She adds much to children's understanding of the effects of the Holocaust, which will reverberate throughout history, today and tomorrow. --School Library Journal; Susan M. Harding, Mesquite Public Library, Texas; Library Journals LLC, 2010. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

The Holocaust was so monstrous a crime that the mind resists belief and the story must be made new for each individual. Yolen's book is about remembering. During a Passover Seder, 12-year-old Hannah finds herself transported from America in 1988 to Poland in 1942, where she assumes the life of young Chaya. Within days the Nazis take Chaya and her neighbors off to a concentration camp, mere components in the death factory. As days pass, Hannah's own memory of her past, and the prisoners' future, fades until she is Chaya completely. Chaya/Hannah's final sacrifice, and the return of memory, is her victory over the horror. The book's simplicity is its strength; no comment is needed because the facts speak for themselves. This brave and powerful book has much it can teach a young audience. Ages 10-14. --Publishers Weekly, October 1989. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
I think this would be a great book to use for a childrens book club. It is mature subject matter but handled in a way that lends itself well to discussion. I think with an adult's feedback and explanation this would be a great book to talk about in the context of the Holocaust to make the material come alive for children that may not be interested in reading historical non-fiction books about the subject matter. I would also recommend this book to a child who was looking to learn more about that time period in history. This book would do well when used in conjunction with some other powerful fictional holocaust tales like Lowry's Number the Stars and Zusak's The Book Thief.

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SLIS 5420/Module 10
Historical Fiction
October 25-31, 2010

Module 9: The Face on the Milk Carton

Cooney, C. (1990). The Face on the Milk Carton. New York: Bantam Books.

Summary
Janie sees a milk carton in the school cafeteria and recognizes her face as the missing toddler on the back of the carton. This leads her to a path of discovery about her past and where she comes from. She is the missing girl on the milk box and discovers that the people she thought were her parents are actually the grandparents of a woman who kidnapped her and then disappeared. Janie must choose whether to contact her real family and worries about the consequences to those she loves from this decision.

My Impressions
While I enjoyed the premise of this book, I felt like Cooney's resolution was a convenient cop-out in handling a difficult problem. Part of the conflict in this novel was whether Janie should turn in her parents for kidnapping her even though she loved them. She felt connected to her home but also compelled by the life she could be leading and the family she never knew. By creating the character of a long-lost daughter in a cult who had kidnapped Janie and then left her with the unknowing grandparents, Cooney conveniently sidesteps this moral controversy and creates a loophole in the storyline that grants Janie permission to love everyone. I felt tricked as a result of this fancy footwork and though I would like to know what happens to Janie, I don't feel compelled to finish this series because of some distrust of the author. It's an interesting subject to think about, I just left this book wishing that the resolution to Janie's dilemma was more compelling. On an interesting side note, this book has faced banning challenges due to sexual content and the questioning of authority figures. I didn't find the sexual content to be in any way prominent and was surprised that this book would be challenged.

Professional Reviews
Gr 7-10-- The message on the milk carton reads, "Have you seen this child?'' Three-year-old Jennie Spring was kidnapped 12 years earlier, but Janie Johnson, looking at the photo, suddenly knows that she is that child. Fragments of memory and evidence accumulate, and when she demands to know about her early childhood years, her parents confess what they believe to be true, that she is really their grandchild, the child of their long-missing daughter who had joined a cult. Janie wants to accept this, but she cannot forget Jennie's family and their loss. Finally, almost against her will, she seeks help and confides in her parents. Her mother insists that she call the Spring family, and the book ends as she calls them. Many young people fantasize about having been adopted or even kidnapped, but the decisions Janie must face are painful and complex, and she experiences denial, anger, and guilt while sorting her way toward a solution. Janie's boyfriend--sensible, funny, with problems of his own--is an excellent foil for her intensity. Their romance is natural and believable. Cooney again demonstrates an excellent ear for dialogue and a gift for protraying responsible middle-class teenagers trying to come to terms with very real concerns. A good choice for readers of Norma Fox Mazer's Taking Terri Muller (Morrow, 1983). --School Library Journal; Tatiana Castleton, Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library, CA; 2010. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Up to her fifteenth year, the most Jane Johnson had to worry about was her boring name. She loved her parents, despite their overly cautious approach toward her growing up; had friends; and generally liked herself. Then the picture of a missing child on a school milk carton triggers flashbacks to long-buried memories of Jane as a child--the milk carton child, in fact. Is she the missing Jennie Spring, snatched from her family years before? Or is she simply Jane, who doesn't like her name? There's a good bit of melodrama in the plot (a cult-influenced mother and a pair of nervous grandparents hiding from the Hare Krishna), as well as a sort of half-baked romance. But Cooney does not give in to facile resolutions, and her depiction of Jane's personal quandary, while not rendered with depth, seems real enough as it follows the girl's struggle to make sense of what's happened and to balance her feelings for the couple she knows as her parents with her curiosity about the family to which she once belonged. Gr. 7-10. --Booklist; Stephanie Zvirin, Accessed 2010. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

The picture of a missing child printed on a milk carton attracts the attention of 15-year-old Jane Johnson. A glimpse of the girl's polka-dot dress causes memories to surface, and Jane begins to review her past and question her true identity. It is nearly impossible for Jane to perceive her loving parents as kidnappers; the task of gathering evidence and drawing conclusions proves less difficult than confronting the undeniable truth. As the novel ends, Jane has found the courage to contact her real parents, but Cooney cleverly leaves the events that follow to readers' imaginations. Although the book's plot is based largely on coincidences, Cooney's skilled writing makes even the most unlikely events seem plausible. The roller-coaster ride Jane experiences with her emotions is both absorbing and convincing. Strong characterizations and suspenseful, impeccably-paced action add to this novel's appeal. Ages 12-up. --Publishers Weekly; March 1990. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This book might be recommended to a teenager who enjoys mysteries and comes to the library looking for more recommendations. I'm not a huge fan of this book but would not discount it entirely as a part of Reader's Advisory. The good thing is that if a teenager enjoys this book, they can continue reading about Janie's story in three subsequent novels.

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SLIS 5420/Module 9
Mystery
October 18-24, 2010

Module 8: The Lightening Thief

Riordan, R. (2005). The Lightning Thief. New York: Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary
Percy is a trouble-making special education student who has been kicked out of multiple boarding schools for continually getting in trouble. He has ADHD and reading difficulties. When Percy encounters strange attacks from adversaries, he begins to realize that his destiny is different from ordinary kids. He learns he is a half-blood or demi-god and travels to a camp that specially trains these children of the immortals to defend themselves against attacking monsters. Percy discovers that his father is Poseidon, god of the sea, and that because of this he has special powers. Percy then goes on a quest to settle an argument between the gods and makes some friends and enemies in the process.

My Impressions
This story was wonderful and not only keeps the reader riveted but teaches them more about the Greek gods and mythology in the process of reading. I really enjoyed this tale and it reminded me a bit of Harry Potter in the complexity of its storyline.

Professional Reviews
Gr 5-9-An adventure-quest with a hip edge. At first glance, Perseus Jackson seems like a loser (readers meet him at a boarding school for troubled youth), but he's really the son of Poseidon and a mortal woman. As he discovers his heritage, he also loses that mother and falls into mortal danger. The gods (still very active in the 21st-century world) are about to go to war over a lost thunderbolt, so Percy and sidekicks Grover (a young satyr) and Annabeth (daughter of Athena) set out to retrieve it. Many close calls and monster-attacks later, they enter Hades's realm (via L.A.). A virtuoso description of the Underworld is matched by a later account of Olympus (hovering 600 floors above Manhattan). There's lots of zippy review of Greek myth and legend, and characters like Medusa, Procrustes, Charon, and the Eumenides get updates. Some of the Labors of Heracles or Odysseus's adventures are recycled, but nothing seems stale, and the breakneck pace keeps the action from being too predictable. Percy is an ADHD, wise-cracking, first-person narrator. Naturally, his real quest is for his own identity. Along the way, such topics as family, trust, war, the environment, dreams, and perceptions are raised. There is subtle social critique for sophisticated readers who can see it. Although the novel ends with a satisfying conclusion (and at least one surprise), it is clear that the story isn't over. The 12-year-old has matured and is ready for another quest, and the villain is at large. Readers will be eager to follow the young protagonist's next move. --School Library Journal, Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI, 2005. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 6-9. The escapades of the Greek gods and heroes get a fresh spin in the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, about a contemporary 12-year-old New Yorker who learns he's a demigod. Perseus, aka Percy Jackson, thinks he has big problems. His father left before he was born, he's been kicked out of six schools in six years, he's dyslexic, and he has ADHD. What a surprise when he finds out that that's only the tip of the iceberg: he vaporizes his pre-algebra teacher, learns his best friend is a satyr, and is almost killed by a minotaur before his mother manages to get him to the safety of Camp Half-Blood--where he discovers that Poseidon is his father. But that's a problem, too. Poseidon has been accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, and unless Percy can return the bolt, humankind is doomed. Riordan's fast-paced adventure is fresh, dangerous, and funny. Percy is an appealing, but reluctant hero, the modernized gods are hilarious, and the parallels to Harry Potter are frequent and obvious. Because Riordan is faithful to the original myths, librarians should be prepared for a rush of readers wanting the classic stories. --Booklist, Chris Sherman, 2005. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This would be a great book to use in a book talk for junior high students or as the book of the month for a library book club. Definitely a book that can be recommended to children who enjoyed Harry Potter and are looking for recommendations on books with similar fantasy/adventure themes. And a good selling point of this story is that if readers like it, they can continue reading about Percy's adventures in the next four books.

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SLIS 5420/Module 8, Book 2
Fantasy and Science Fiction
October 11-17, 2010

Module 8: City of Ember

DuPrau, J. (2003). The City of Ember. New York: Random House.

Summary
In this post-apocalyptic saga, a group of survivors creates a society underground and then the history of their story is lost through the generations. As the main characters Lina and Doon get their work assignment they find that their city is losing power and that time is running out for its resources. They do not know that there is something else out there other than the life and environment that they know and so must try and seek the truth of their history so they can save their people.

My Impressions
This is such a compelling story. From the beginning readers are unaware of where the city of Ember is located and are drawn into this story that is narrated by Lina and Doon. The two search for answers despite living in a society where knowledge of the past is limited and technological understanding is non-existent. Part mystery, part dystopian society, this book kept me guessing and was unique and very memorable.

Professional Reviews
In her electric debut, DuPrau imagines a post-apocalyptic underground world where resources are running out. The city of Ember, "the only light in the dark world," began as a survival experiment created by the "Builders" who wanted their children to "grow up with no knowledge of a world outside, so that they feel no sorrow for what they have lost." An opening prologue describes the Builders' intentions-that Ember's citizens leave the city after 220 years. They tuck "The Instructions" to a way out within a locked box programmed to open at the right time. But the box has gone astray. The story opens on Assignment Day in the year 241, when 12-year-olds Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow draw lots for their jobs from the mayor's bag. Lina gets "pipeworks laborer," a job that Doon wants, while Doon draws "messenger," the job that Lina covets, and they trade. Through their perspectives, DuPrau reveals the fascinating details of this subterranean community: as Doon repairs leaks deep down among the Pipeworks, he also learns just how dire the situation is with their malfunctioning generator. Meanwhile, the messages Lina carries point to other sorts of subterfuge. Together, the pair become detectives in search of the truth-part of which may be buried in some strange words that were hidden in Lina's grandmother's closet. Thanks to full-blooded characters every bit as compelling as the plot, Lina and Doon's search parallels the universal adolescent quest for answers. Readers will sit on the edge of their seats as each new truth comes to light. Ages 10-13. --Publishers Weekly, May 2003. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
A great book to recommend to children looking for a fantasy with some elements of mystery. It's also a wonderful book to recommend to children who are interested in understanding more about electricity and the importance of its invention. This would make a great pick for book of the month for a library book reading group.

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SLIS 5420/Module 8, Book 1
Fantasy and Science Fiction
October 11-17, 2010

Module 7: Wintergirls

Anderson, L. (2009). Wintergirls. New York: Viking.

Summary
Lia confronts her anorexia and the guilt over her estranged best friend Cassie's death. Readers follow Lia's thoughts as she fights against her constant urges to deny herself food even as she knows this battle will kill her as it did Cassie. Lia also battles her parents for control of her life. Yet through Lia's pain, we can see her humanity in her steadfast love for her little sister and her ultimate decision to give life a chance.

My Impressions
This was a beautifully written book with lyrical prose and an interesting style of crossing out thoughts that Lia did not want to acknowledge. Much of the story is narrated through Lia's internal dialogue as she fights against her own urges. Readers are rooting for Lia until the very end. I've read many books about eating disorders and this is now one of my favorites. The writing flows and is believable and the complexity of Lia's feelings in regards to her friend's death is very realistic. Great portrayal of the struggle that girls with eating disorders endure within their own minds. The story also talks a bit about the urge to cut oneself in order to get rid of pain which oftentimes goes hand-in-hand with body image disorders.

Professional Reviews
*Starred Review* Problem-novel fodder becomes a devastating portrait of the extremes of self-deception in this brutal and poetic deconstruction of how one girl stealthily vanishes into the depths of anorexia. Lia has been down this road before: her competitive relationship with her best friend, Cassie, once landed them both in the hospital, but now not even Cassie's death can eradicate Lia's disgust of the fat cows who scrutinize her body all day long. Her father (no, Professor Overbrook ) and her mother (no, Dr. Marrigan ) are frighteningly easy to dupe tinkering and sabotage inflate her scale readings as her weight secretly plunges: 101.30, 97.00, 89.00. Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world where every piece of food is just a caloric number, inner voices scream NO! with each swallow, and self-worth is too easily gauged: I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through. Struck-through sentences, incessant repetition, and even blank pages make Lia's inner turmoil tactile, and gruesome details of her decomposition will test sensitive readers. But this is necessary reading for anyone caught in a feedback loop of weight loss as well as any parent unfamiliar with the scripts teens recite so easily to escape from such deadly situations. --Booklist; Kraus, Daniel, 2008. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr 8 Up-The intensity of emotion and vivid language here are more reminiscent of Anderson's Speak (Farrar, 1999) than any of her other works. Lia and Cassie had been best friends since elementary school, and each developed her own style of eating disorder that leads to disaster. Now 18, they are no longer friends. Despite their estrangement, Cassie calls Lia 33 times on the night of her death, and Lia never answers. As events play out, Lia's guilt, her need to be thin, and her fight for acceptance unravel in an almost poetic stream of consciousness in this startlingly crisp and pitch-perfect first-person narrative. The text is rich with words still legible but crossed out, the judicious use of italics, and tiny font-size refrains reflecting her distorted internal logic. All of the usual answers of specialized treatment centers, therapy, and monitoring of weight and food fail to prevail while Lia's cleverness holds sway. What happens to her in the end is much less the point than traveling with her on her agonizing journey of inexplicable pain and her attempt to make some sense of her life. --School Library Journal; Carol A. Edwards, Denver Public Library, 2009. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Acute anorexia, self-mutilation, dysfunctional families and the death of a childhood friend-returning to psychological minefields akin to those explored in Speak, Anderson delivers a harrowing story overlaid with a trace of mysticism. The book begins as Lia learns that her estranged best friend, Cassie, has been found dead in a motel room; Lia tells no one that, after six months of silence, Cassie called her 33 times just two days earlier, and that Lia didn't pick up even once. With Lia as narrator, Anderson shows readers how anorexia comes to dominate the lives of those who suffer from it (here, both Lia and Cassie), even to the point of fueling intense competition between sufferers. The author sets up Lia's history convincingly and with enviable economy-her driven mother is "Mom Dr. Marrigan," while her stepmother's values are summed up with a prEcis of her stepsister's agenda: "Third grade is not too young for enrichment, you know." This sturdy foundation supports riskier elements: subtle references to the myth of Persephone and a crucial plot line involving Cassie's ghost and its appearances to Lia. As difficult as reading this novel can be, it is more difficult to put down. Ages 12-up. --Publishers Weekly, March 2009. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This is definitely a heavy topic but very relevant in a time where girls, influenced by MTV and entertainment television, feel more judged by their looks than ever before. Teenage girls will relate to this story and fans of Hopkins' books will most likely enjoy this book as well. This would be a great book to recommend to teenage girls with the warning that the subject matter is quite intense and the underlying theme of the book is the conviction that this sort of self-destructive behavior will ultimately lead to the destruction of one's life.

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SLIS 5420/Module 7, Book 2
Realistic Fiction for Young Adults
October 4-10, 2010

Module 7: Stargirl

Spinelli, J. (2000). Stargirl. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Summary
Stargirl, a non-conformist that ultimately hopes to be liked by everyone, shakes up an apathetic high school with her candor and love for all. Leo, the narrator of this story, falls in love with Stargirl but ultimately is embarrassed by her abandonment of conformity and tries to change her. In the end, Stargirl, feeling the sting of rejection from her peers despite her victory in the oratory competition, chooses to forgo the love and acceptance of others and stick to her unique style.

My Impressions
I was a bit surprised in the beginning that this tale was narrated by a boy. While I enjoyed the story, I found Stargirl's character at times cloying and very inexplicable. What would make a girl be this different? Even explaining that she is homeschooled doesn't really resolve how Stargirl is so out-of-touch with the reality of social norms. I know that Spinelli was hoping to underline the ridiculousness of conformity in high school and in life, but I felt at times that the portrayal of Stargirl was disingenuous. While I was upset at Leo for wanting to change her ways, I could also understand how he was disturbed by some of her more outrageous behavior. I know that my empathy was supposed to lie with Stargirl but I found myself going back and forth in how I felt about her character.

Professional Reviews
Gr 6-10-High school is a time of great conformity, when being just like everybody else is of paramount importance. So it is no surprise that Stargirl Caraway causes such excitement and confusion when she arrives at Mica High in Arizona. Initially, everyone is charmed by her unconventional behavior- she wears unusual clothing, she serenades the lunchroom with her ukulele, she practices random acts of kindness, she is cheerleader extraordinaire in a place with no school spirit. Naturally, this cannot last and eventually her individuality is reviled. The story is told by Leo, who falls in love with Stargirl's zany originality, but who then finds himself unable to let go of the need to be conventional. Spinelli's use of a narrator allows readers the distance necessary to appreciate Stargirl's eccentricity and Leo's need to belong to the group, without removing them from the immediacy of the story. That makes the ending all the more disappointing-to discover that Leo is looking back imposes an unnecessary adult perspective on what happened in high school. The prose lapses into occasionally unfortunate flowery flights, but this will not bother those readers-girls especially-who will understand how it feels to not quite fit the mold and who attempt to exult in their differences. --School Library Journal; Sharon Grover, Arlington County Department of Libraries, VA, 2000. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 6^-9. Sixteen-year-old Leo recounts Stargirl's sojourn at Mica High in an allegorical story that is engagingly written but overreaches. Everyone notices Stargirl when she comes to school. She wears a granny gown, strums a ukulele, and sings "Happy Birthday" to kids in the cafeteria. She also carries around a pet rat. Her classmates veer between ignoring her and being discreetly fascinated by her weirdness--dancing when there's no music, speaking in class of trolls and stars. Slowly, Stargirl attracts a following, especially after she gives a spellbinding speech in an oratorical contest and single handly stirs up school spirit. But her intense popularity is short-lived as, predictably, the teens turn on her. Leo is attracted by Stargirl and her penchant for good works. But just about the time they get together, the rest of the school is shunning her, and to his confusion and despair, Leo eventually turns his back on Stargirl too. Spinelli firmly captures the high-school milieu, here heightened by the physical and spiritual barrenness of an Arizona location, a new town where people come to work for technology companies and the school team is called the Electrons. Dialogue, plot, and supporting cast are strong: the problem here is Stargirl herself. She may have been homeschooled, may not have seen much TV, but despite her name, she has lived on planet earth for 15 years, and her naivete is overplayed and annoying. When Leo tells her that not everyone likes having somebody with a ukulele sing "Happy Birthday" to them, she is shocked. That she has not noticed she is being shunned is unbelievable, and, at times, readers may feel more sympathy for the bourgeois teens than the earnest, kind, magical Stargirl. That's too bad, because Spinelli's point about the lure and trap of normalcy is a good one. But to make it real, Stargirl needed to have at least one foot on the ground. --Booklist; Ilene Cooper, 2001. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Part fairy godmother, part outcast, part dream-come-true, the star of Spinelli's latest novel possesses many of the mythical qualities as the protagonist of his Maniac Magee. As narrator Leo Borlock reflects on his junior year in a New Mexico high school, Stargirl takes center stage. Even before she appears at Mica High, Spinelli hints at her invisible presence; readers, like Leo, will wonder if Stargirl is real or some kind of mirage in the Sonoran Desert. By describing the girl through the eyes of a teen intermittently repulsed by and in love with her, Spinelli cunningly exposes her elusive qualities. Having been homeschooled, Stargirl appears at Mica High dressed as a hippie holdover and toting a ukulele, which she uses to serenade students on their birthdays; she marks holidays with Halloween candy and Valentine cards for all. As her cheer leading antics draw record crowds to the school's losing football team's games, her popularity skyrockets, yet a subtle foreboding infuses the narrative and readers know it's only a matter of time until she falls from grace. For Leo, caught between his peers and his connection to Stargirl, the essential question boils down to one offered to him by a sage adult friend: "Whose affection do you value more, hers or the others'?" As always respectful of his audience, Spinelli poses searching questions about loyalty to one's friends and oneself and leaves readers to form their own answers. Ages 12-up. --Publishers Weekly, August 2000. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
I know this is an extremely popular book for teenage girls and that it is often used in the school curriculum. In the library setting, I think this is a good book to recommend to girls as well as use in a book club. I think discussion about conformity versus acceptance of social norms would be a good topic that would stem from the reading of this book.

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SLIS 5420/Module 7, Book 1
Realistic Fiction for Young Adults
October 4-1o, 2010

Module 6: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key

Gantos, J. (1998). Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Summary
This is an extreme example of acute ADHD. Joey Pigza just can't sit still, can't concentrate and can't seem to do the right thing by the standards of society or his school rules. Through this book we see the effect of medication on controlling Joey's behavior. Joey is a lovable character and even though oftentimes his ADHD leads him to do irresponsible things, like accidentally cutting a classmate while running with scissors, Joey still feels bad about his behavior and realizes that things aren't under control.

My Impressions
While this book can sometimes be painful to read because you feel so bad for the main character Joey, it's a great story about what a child with ADHD experiences. I know people that have this disorder but I never quite knew the extremes to which this disorder can affect behavior. This really made me change the way I felt about the ADHD designation. Joey is an appealing character who tries to do the right thing even when some of the adults in his life can be harsh and unsympathetic towards his condition. I also really liked that this book was written in first person narrative so that readers felt even closer to Joey's thought process.

Professional Reviews
Gr 5-8-Joey Pigza suffers from severe attention deficit disorder and struggles to remain calm when his world chaotically slips through his fingertips. When his medicine wears off, he cannot concentrate or sit still and is constantly in trouble at school. After leaving him for several years in the care of his abusive grandmother, his mother returns to reclaim him and her parental responsibilities. But Joey remains a challenge: he continually disrupts his class, swallows his house key, and runs away during a field trip. Eventually, he injures a classmate and is sent to a special education center for six weeks; here his medication is regulated and he learns how to manage his behavior. Joey leaves the center feeling strong and in control and he triumphantly returns to his old school. Gantos creates a strong cast of multidimensional characters. Joey is inherently a good kid and just as his teachers want him to succeed, readers will empathize and feel his emotional and physical bruises. References to alcoholism and abuse add realism to the novel without impeding the flow of the plot. In his first-person narrative, Joey relates incidents that are heart wrenching and humorous. From the powerful opening lines and fast-moving plot to the thoughtful inner dialogue and satisfying conclusion, readers will cheer for Joey, and for the champion in each of us. --School Library Journal; Shawn Brommer, Southern Tier Library System, Painted Post, NY, 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Gr. 4^-7. Joey Pigza, who lives with his hyperactive grandmother, understands that he's also "wired bad." Despite his best intentions, he can't concentrate and can't hold still. What's more, he can never resist an impulse: when his teacher assigns him to sharpening pencils to keep him from getting into mischief, he sharpens pencils, then chalk, then a Popsicle stick, and finally his own finger. He begins to settle down when his mother returns and gets him started on medication, but unfortunately, his morning pill wears off by noon every day. What makes this unusual is Gantos' sympathetic approach to all concerned. There are no bad guys among the adults, just well-meaning, occasionally exasperated grown-ups trying to help Joey get his behavior under control. Joey tells his own story, giving a vivid, keenly observed, detailed account of his actions and the reactions of others: "By lunchtime my meds had worn off again and I was spinning around in my chair like it was the Mad Hatter's Teacup ride at the church carnival." Gantos sometimes seems to be using Joey to inform readers, and occasionally makes Joey's comments seem too adult, but Joey is warm, lovable, and good-hearted, though maybe just a little too nice to be realistic. (He never even gets angry when he's deprived of the sugary treats he so craves.) Most teachers and students know at least one child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and this book will surely help them become more understanding, even as they enjoy Gantos' fresh writing style and tart sense of humor. --Booklist; Susan Dove Lempke, 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Authentic-sounding first-person narration by a hyperactive boy gives readers an inside view of attention-deficit disorders. Joey Pigza is a "wired-up mess," and he is struggling to get on the right track. But no matter how hard Joey tries to be good, he usually ends up in trouble, sometimes harming himself or others. After an accident in which the tip of a classmate's nose is sliced off, Joey is suspended from school and sent to a special education center. As case worker "Special Ed" predicts, things do get worse before they get better. Joey's fear that "something [is] wrong inside me" escalates before his medications are readjusted and he is finally able to learn how to make "good decisions." Joey's good intentions, off-the-wall antics and their disastrous consequences will ring true to everyone who has had contact with a child suffering from a similar disorder. In addition to offering an accurate, compassionate and humorous appraisal of Joey's condition, Gantos (the Rotten Ralph series; Desire Lines) humanely examines nature (both Joey's father and grandmother are as "wired up" as he) versus nurture (abandonment by Joey's parents, abuse by his grandmother, children's taunts) as factors in Joey's problems. Joey's hard-won triumph will reassure children fighting his same battle and offer insight to their peers. But because the book is so realistic, reading it can be painful and requires patience, just like dealing with a child like Joey. Ages 10-up. --Publishers Weekly, October 1998. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This is such a relevant book because so many children suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder as well as related educational challenges today. This is a great book to recommend to kids dealing with special education concerns. It's also a great recommendation for teachers who are dealing with children with special needs so that they can have a better understanding and more empathy towards their students.

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SLIS 5420/Module 6
Realistic Fiction for Younger Readers
September 27-October 3, 2010

Module 5: Knuffle Bunny

Willems, M. (2004). Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary
When Trixie's stuffed animal Knuffle Bunny is accidentally left at the laundromat, she tries to communicate its loss to her father. Unfortunately, Trixie can't yet talk so is reduced to tears and a tantrum. Mom and Dad rush back to find her beloved friend and Trixie cries out her first words: "Knuffle Bunny!"

My Impressions
I really loved the illustration technique in this picture book. Willems took black and white photos of Brooklyn and then drew the characters on top in a cartoon style with bright colors. The contrast of photographs to drawings is very unique and the story goes along beautifully with the illustrations. My best friend's three year old loves this book more than any other and after reading it several times, it's clear why. Willems really understands the love between a child and their favorite stuffed animal. Knuffle Bunny is like a well loved family member and travels with Trixie wherever she goes.

Professional Reviews
PreS-Gr 1-Trixie steps lively as she goes on an errand with her daddy, down the block, through the park, past the school, to the Laundromat. For the toddler, loading and putting money into the machine invoke wide-eyed pleasure. But, on the return home, she realizes something. Readers will know immediately that her stuffed bunny has been left behind but try as she might, (in hilarious gibberish), she cannot get her father to understand her problem. Despite his plea of "please don't get fussy," she gives it her all, bawling and going "boneless." They both arrive home unhappy. Mom immediately sees that "Knuffle Bunny" is missing and so it's back to the Laundromat they go. After several tries, dad finds the toy among the wet laundry and reclaims hero status. Yet, this is not simply a lost-and-found tale. The toddler exuberantly exclaims, "Knuffle Bunny!!!" "And those were the first words Trixie ever said." The concise, deftly told narrative becomes the perfect springboard for the pictures. They, in turn, augment the story's emotional acuity. Printed on olive-green backdrops, the illustrations are a combination of muted, sepia-toned photographs upon which bright cartoon drawings of people have been superimposed. Personalities are artfully created so that both parents and children will recognize themselves within these pages. A seamless and supremely satisfying presentation of art and text. --School Library Journal; Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI, 2004. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

PreS-Gr. 1. This comic gem proves that Caldecott Medal-winner Willems, the Dr. Spock and Robin Williams of the lap-sit crowd, has just as clear a bead on pre-verbal children as on silver-tongued preschoolers. On a father-daughter trip to the Laundromat, before toddler Trixie "could even speak words," Daddy distractedly tosses her favorite stuffed bunny into the wash. Unfortunately, Trixie's desperate cries ("aggle flaggle klabble") come across as meaningless baby talk, so she pitches a fit until perceptive Mommy and abashed Daddy sprint back to retrieve the toy. Willems chronicles this domestic drama with pitch-perfect text and illustrations that boldly depart from the spare formula of his previous books. Sepia-tone photographs of a Brooklyn neighborhood provide the backdrops for his hand-drawn artwork, intensifying the humor of the gleefully stylized characters--especially Trixie herself, who effectively registers all the universal signs of toddler distress, from the first quavery grimace to the uncooperative, "boneless" stage to the googly-eyed, gape-mouthed crisis point. Even children who can already talk a blue streak will come away satisfied that their own strong emotions have been mirrored and legitimized, and readers of all ages will recognize the agonizing frustration of a little girl who knows far more than she can articulate. --Booklist; Jennifer Mattson, 2004. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Any child who has ever had a favorite toy will identify with the toddler star of this tale. The plot is simple: Trixie loses bunny, finds bunny and then exuberantly says her first words-"Knuffle Bunny!!!" The fun comes from the details. In an innovative style that employs dappled black-and-white photographs of Brooklyn as backdrop to wickedly funny color cartoons, Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!) creates an entertaining story for parents and children alike. His economical storytelling and deft skill with line lend the book its distinctive charm, while the endpapers mitigate anxiety by cluing in readers concerning the solution to Trixie's problem. Willems renders the characters with Little Lulu-style pointed noses and their expressions are laugh-out-loud funny, from the hapless father's worried look as he and Trixie venture out to the Laundromat, to his roll-up-your-sleeves determination as he rescues the stuffed toy from the washing machine. But it's pre-verbal Trixie who steals the show. Her wide-eyed enthusiasm about the world around her is matched only by her desperate attempts to communicate. "Aggle flaggle klabble!" she says when she finds Knuffle Bunny missing, and her well-intentioned but clueless father translates, "That's right.... We're going home." An especially delicious scene finds the frustrated Trixie abandoning baby talk for action: "Well, she had no choice. Trixie bawled. She went boneless." The accompanying pictures comically corroborate the omniscient narrator's claim. Willems once again demonstrates his keen insight with a story both witty and wise. Ages 4-8. --Publishers Weekly, September 2004. (Retrieved from http://catalog.lapl.org/carlweb/)

Suggested Use in Library
This book is highly engaging and with the depth of illustration, would be a great pick for a kids story time. Especially for toddlers and younger readers, Trixie's tale is eminently understandable. A related craft can be conducted where kids draw their favorite, most loved toy after the reading of this story.

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SLIS 5420/Module 5
Picture Books
September 20-26, 2010