Born Yesterday The Diary of a Young Journalist

Kirkus Review (January 15, 2010)
If we could hear the thoughts of an infant, we might not be surprised by the sardonic and precocious voice of this newborn's year-long diary. Solheim's cartoons in ink-and-watercolor vignettes provide humorous images of this hyperobservant baby's discovery of everything from a tantalizing crib mobile to hands that can grab, feet that can be sucked, food that can be flung and the notion that "the up end of people is their hairstyles and the down end is their tootsie-wootsies." Yet the best discovery of this aspiring new author is how crying or laughing can alter communication--especially when a big sister's love makes her the best friend "For Ever." Older siblings with a sense of how a new baby can change the dynamics of a family may appreciate this baby's adjustment to life while recognizing that younger brothers or sisters can be the most admiring and supportive of friends. (Picture book. 5-8)

One Day and One Amazing Morning on Orange Street

Kirkus Review starred (March 1, 2011)
Does the arrival of a mysterious man in a green car presage a miracle on Orange Street? Does the orange cone in front of the empty lot where the last majestic orange tree stood mean trouble? The tree was rooted in the lives of four kids. Bunny, age nine, has OCD and worries every time her mother flies. Leandra lives at 301 above the garage with her grandparents because her mother is pregnant. Ali has a toddler brother who has stopped talking after a hospital stay. Lonely Robert is a chubby would-be magician with a crush on Ali. The segments of their lives cluster around the orange tree that holds secrets in the dirt, shelters hummingbird nests and provides California shade. There's also Manny, the dreadlocked nanny for Ali's brother, and Ms. Snoops, whose memory is like a lacy antimacassar, with holes. Unfolding in one day's time, the story recounts how secrets are revealed, curiosity is satisfied and wishing becomes hope because the spirit and ties of friendship and community are resilient and strong. Fully realized characters and setting definitely make this one morning on Orange Street amazing. (Fiction. 8-11)

Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want to Survive

Booklist (July 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 21))
Grades K-3. The unfortunate among us recall the carnivalesque horrors of entering a school bus for the first time: the creaking bat-wing of the door, the towering driver, the jungle of bizarre and unfriendly faces. Grandits sums up the traumatic experience quite neatly in this surreal take on the reputation (and reality) of riding the bus. Kyle’s older brother, James, is the source of the frightening list of do-or-die rules. Never sit in the first row. Never sit in the back row. Never make eye contact. Never touch anyone’s stuff. Each threat receives a delirious acrylic illustration from Austin that turns everything—trees, chairs, people—into wild malformations that slouch as if constructed of Play-Doh. The surly big kid looks like a wolf, the bus itself has horns, and so on. Naturally, Kyle breaks all 10 rules in a single day, which leads him to concoct Rule 11: ignore your brother’s rules. With its decent amount of text, this skews slightly older, though its topic, of course, is perfect for anyone dealing with the Big Yellow Monster.

Wonderstruck

Booklist starred (August 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 22)) Grades 4-8. Opening Selznick’s new book is like opening a cabinet of wonders—the early museum display case “filled with a nearly infinite variety of amazing things” that is so central to this story. Following the Caldecott Medal–winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007), Selznick offers another visual narrative, one that feels even better suited to his inventive style. The beautifully crafted structure includes two stories set 50 years apart. The first, set in 1977, is told in text and follows Ben, who is grieving the sudden loss of his mother when he stumbles upon clues that point to his father’s identity. The second, told entirely in richly shaded pencil drawings, opens in 1927 as a young girl, Rose, gazes at a newspaper clipping. Rose is deaf, and Ben also loses his hearing, during a lightning strike. Both lonely children run away to New York City, and their parallel stories echo and reflect each other through nuanced details, which lead “like a treasure map” to a conjoined, deeply satisfying conclusion. Selznick plays with a plethora of interwoven themes, including deafness and silence, the ability to see and value the world, family, and the interconnectedness of life. Although the book is hefty, at more than 600 pages, the pace is nevertheless brisk, and the kid-appealing mystery propels the story. With appreciative nods to museums, libraries, and E. L. Konigsburg, Wonderstruck is a gift for the eye, mind, and heart.

RRRALPH

Booklist starred (February 15, 2011 (Vol. 107, No. 12))

Preschool-Grade 3. Ralph is a talking dog. And the text of this clever book consists of questions posed to Ralph, the canine answers, and comments from an unseen narrator talking to introduces this amazing pet. Asked “What’s your name?” the dog answers, “RRRALPH/RALPH.” Asked “Where are you?” Ralph responds, “ROOF/ROOF.” Once kids get the joke, they’ll enjoy guessing the dog’s replies to queries such as “What’s on that tree?” and “How’s the path feel on your paws, Ralph?” Created with realia as well as painted and textured papers, the three-dimensional collage illustrations feature zippers for Ralph’s mouth, a metal pop-top for his nose, buttons for the birds’ eyes, and actual bark for the tree’s trunk. The pages, colored in hot-pink, grass-green, and pumpkin, magnify the visual energy of the artwork and graphics. Each animal or object pictured shows up distinctly against a bright background, and Ralph’s words, along with the short lines of text, appear in large, bold type. With its appealing jacket art, clever text, and vibrant illustrations, this amusing picture book is a pleasure to read aloud, either individually or in story hour settings.

Amelia's BFF

School Library Journal (June 1, 2011)

Gr 3-5-In her latest journal, Amelia's in-town and out-of-town best friends meet for the first time. Jealousy ensues and Amelia is caught in the middle. She wants to enter a school baking competition with both friends but they are determined not to like one another and are now both angry at Amelia. With a handwriting-like font, color doodles, sketches, and thought bubbles, this is an easy read that feels like a chapter in a larger story. Amelia may be in middle school, but her journal is appropriate for the elementary school crowd, and her fans should be satisfied with this offering. For more of Amelia's story, look for the 20+ journals that came before this one.-Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream

Booklist (December 1, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 7))
Grades 2-4. In the tradition of Judy Moody and Clementine comes Clara Lee. Clara is a typical third-grader who neatly combines her Korean and American sides. Her warm, supportive family includes a grandfather who is always there for her, especially when she decides to pursue her dream of being Little Miss Apple Pie, riding in the float in her town’s apple festival. In a plot that will resonate with kids, Clara is scared when she dreams her grandfather dies, but Grandfather tells her that in Korean tradition that means good luck is coming. And sure enough, Clara’s luck does take a turn for the better, with a newfound ability in gym class, a surprise present in her desk, and the courage (almost) to write the speech that could be her ticket to the apple festival. But luck has a habit of changing too, and when things aren’t going quite as well, Clara wonders if she should give up her dream. A realistic group of characters, both adults and children, and true-to-life situations will make this illustrated chapter book a favorite.