Review: PBS Kids Look and Learn: Birds by Sarah Parvis

I have two bird feeders and two bird baths in my yard and love spending time watching the birds that come visit me daily. Summer and winter, I've spent many enjoyable hours identifying the species, watching the little ones grow up, and laughing  while they line up on the deck rail to get their turn at the feeder.

When Downtown Bookworks offered me a chance to review PBS Kids: Look and Learn Birds by Sarah Parvis I couldn't resist. How fun would it be to share my love of birds with one of the youngsters in my life!? Little did I know that I too would improve my bird-identification skills.

The PBS Kids: Look and Learn Birds kit comes in the colorful box shown above and includes binoculars, an activity poster, a laminated list of common birds in North America, and a small book to help a young birder get started on a new hobby. The book and activities are appropriate for kids 4 years old and up.

The first thing I noticed about the book was that the birds are all shown in photographs, not drawings, which I think is brilliant. Sometimes the drawings in bird-identification books are difficult to interpret. Photos are so much clearer. Next, I was impressed with the thoughtful range of birds covered in the book. Whether you live in the city or country, on the coast or inland, in the East or in the West, you'll be able to find birds common to your area. No child is going to be disappointed because the birds she sees in her yard aren't covered in the book.

It's also important to me that the information Parvis provided is not watered down. Children (and adults) will learn real tips for bird identification--for example, what kinds of details to look for, how birds' coloring can change with the seasons, and how to tell male from female.

The laminated quick ID card, is also geared to young birders across the continent. There is a robin and a cardinal, but there's also a gull, a pigeon, a scrub-jay, a duck, and a couple of hawks. I'm posting this little card near my bird-watching spot to see how many come into my yard.

Finally, the activity poster (which you could hang up or frame) shows photos of quite a number of birds and then asks ten questions that can be answered by looking at the pictures. These activities are appropriate for very young kids, asking them to point out which birds are flying or which have black heads, for example. As your youngster learns more about birds you (or he) could come with more questions.

The PBS Kids: Look and Learn Birds by Sarah Parvis is a great way to get your children interested in nature and eager to go on a daily walk, with binoculars and book in tow. The kit is perfect for gift-giving: birthday, special treat, or Christmas. If you home school, the kit would make a great science unit. I have a special young neighbor who likes to watch the birds at my feeders. I can't wait to give her this kit and increase her interest in learning more about nature and science.

If you visit the Downtown Bookworks site you'll see that PBS Kids also has a Look and Learn Insects kit that comes with a magnifier jar, booklet, activity poster, and identification card. As the marketing material for these kits say, they "take the nature walk to a whole new level!"

Published by Downtown Bookworks, August 2016
ISBN-13: 9781941367292
Source: review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review and Giveaway: Diva and Flea by Mo Willems with Tony DiTerlizzi

Are you a homebody or a wanderer? No matter which lifestyle more closely resembles your own, you and your young readers will love visiting Paris through the charming story Diva and Flea by Mo Willems with its beautiful illustrations by Tony DiTerlizzi.

Little Diva has always been queen of her front garden, watching the world go by outside her fence and always, always running away from The Feet, which seem to come in pairs. Big, scrappy Flea is a Paris flâneur, who wanders the city just to see what he can see, always, always avoiding The Broom, which seems to live inside buildings. This is the story of what happens when Flea meets Diva.

I loved this sweet story of two unlikely friends who have something to teach each other about ways to see the world and ways to be brave. No matter how different you may seem from others and no matter whether you're little or big, a traveler or settled you--like Diva and Flea--can find common ground and mutual respect.

Willems (or his wife; see the video) was very smart to have thought of DiTerlizzi to help bring the characters and the city of Paris alive on the page. One look at the artwork makes it clear that DiTerlizzi truly understands Diva and Flea; he has perfectly captured their personalities in his illustrations.

Share Mo Willems's Diva and Flea with a youngster or read it yourself. Then make space on your shelves for this beautifully illustrated book; it's destined to be a children's classic.

For more on the story and the collaboration between Willems and DiTerlizzi (and to see some of the illustrations) take a look at this short video.

The Giveaway: Thanks to Disney Publishing, I'm able to offer one of readers, young or old, his or her very own copy of Diva and Flea. And to encourage your youngster's wandering spirit (perhaps she too can be a Paris flâneur), the publishing company is including a child's rolling suitcase to start her on her way. All you have to do to be entered for a chance to win is to have U.S. mailing address and to fill out the following form. I'll pick a winner via random number generator on October 15. Once the winner has been confirmed and the mailing address sent along to the publisher, I'll erase all personal information from my computer. Good luck!



To learn more and to stay on top of the news

• Check out the Diva and Flea page on the Disney Publishing website
• Follow Mo Willems on Twitter
• Follow Tony DiTerlizzi on Twitter and Instagram
• Follow the hashtag #DivaandFlea on all your social media

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Review: Two Piper Green Books by Ellen Potter

Although I really enjoy reading middle grade books, I rarely read anything geared for a younger audience, but there was something about Ellen Potter's Piper Green series was just too cute to pass up. The first two books, running about 100 pages each, were published this week.

Piper Green and the Fairy Tree introduces us to young Piper on the morning she's starting second grade. Her school is likely very different from the one you went to. You see, Piper lives on a small island off the coast of Maine, and the handful of elementary-school kids who live there must ride a lobster boat every day to a nearby island, where the schoolhouse is located.

On this day, Piper is distressed because her older brother has had to move to the mainland because there is no middle school on the islands, and she misses him a lot. Then when she gets to school, she learns there's a new second-grade teacher, and she and Piper get off on the wrong foot. Fortunately, with the help of an elderly neighbor, Piper discovers there's a special tree right in her own front yard and realizes that change is not always a bad thing.

In Piper Green and the Fairy Tree: Too Much Luck, Piper learns that sometimes there can be too much a good thing. All in one morning her bedroom is painted her favorite color, she finds a perfect strawberry, she gets to eat a cinnamon roll for breakfast, and her wiggly front tooth finally falls out. Her friend Jacob is a bit worried, however: too much luck means something unlucky is about to happen, and sure enough, things soon start going downhill, beginning with Camilla, the new girl in her class. Can Piper find a way to turn her luck around?

Ellen Potter created a wonderful character in the spunky, outspoken Piper Green. She is mischievous, has an active imagination, loves her family, is a good friend, and can make mistakes--just like a regular little girl. Young readers, especially girls, will want to be her friend and will wish they had a fairy tree in their own yards.

I have a weakness for books set in Maine, especially along the ocean, so I knew I'd be easily hooked. But anyone who loves the rugged Atlantic coast will appreciate that Potter has the details of island life just right. Lobstering is the principal profession, and the schoolgirls consider life jackets to be a fashion item.

The Piper Green stories are early chapter books, but they are nonetheless charmingly illustrated by Qin Leng. In the scan I've included here, Piper and her best friend, Ruby, are jumping for joy over Piper's good luck. The boy under the slide is pretending to be in jail; don't you love the look on his face as he watches the girls (click image to enlarge). The black-and-white drawings are surrounded by a rope border, which ties the pictures into the boating life of the Maine coast. Oh and don't miss the maps of the islands at the beginning of the books.

I wholeheartedly encourage you to read Ellen Potter's Piper Green books yourself and with your children. Although there are messages about being a good friend and about making the best of things when you're sad, most kids and adults are going to love Piper Green and the Fairy Tree and Piper Green and the Fairy Tree: Too Much Luck because of the fun stories, great characters, and cute illustrations. Put these on your buy list.

Published by Random House Children's Books / Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2015
ISBN-13: 97808553499230 and 97880553499278
Source: Review (eGalley) (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Review: Hidden by Loic Dauvillier, Marc Lizano, and Greg Salsedo

Although the official Holocaust Remembrance Day was April 27, we shouldn't need to mark our calendars to remember the millions of people killed in war, in concentration camps, and on the streets of Europe in 1930s and 1940s.

Last month, First Second published Hidden, the English-language version of Loic Dauvillier, Mare Lizano, and Greg Salsedo's moving story (originally written in French) about a young Jewish girl's experiences during the French Occupation.

Presented in the guise of a graphic novel and geared to early or middle grade readers, Hidden tells a personal story of confusion, fear, and loss but also of hope, kindness, and happy days, even in the midst of war.

Dounia Cohen, was in primary school when she was forced to wear the yellow star that her father told her would make her a sheriff. Although she is too young to understand everything, Dounia is quick to realize that her father didn't tell her the truth. She also soon learns how lucky she is to have adults around who are willing to help and protect her.

She tries not to cry when her parents are taken away in the night and knows not to argue when her name is changed to Simone and she is told to call a neighbor lady "mama." Secreted off to the countryside, where she learns to milk cows, go to mass, and play in the sunshine, "Simone"--and her new mother--survive the war in good shape.

After France is liberated and the war ends, the two return to Paris and begin the heartbreaking search for Dounia's parents.

Dauvillier, Lizano, and Salsedo do not lose track of their intended audience. The horrors of the war are seen through the eyes of the child, so, for example, the particulars of the concentration camps are not discussed. At the same time, the story is not sugar-coated or dumbed down for young readers. The authors clearly depict Dounia's humiliation and fear after the occupation and how much she misses her parents after she's been separated from them. She is also aware of the city around her and sees ugly graffiti on the street and witnesses some of the violence.

Hidden also delivers on the message that we can all make a difference in other people's lives. We can open our hearts and homes to those in need, we can resist prejudices and corrupt governments, and we can find love and hope even in the darkest of times.

Beautifully illustrated with appropriately muted colors, Hidden is a wonderful place to start having discussions with your kids about important issues. If children are not too young to experience war and hate firsthand, they are also not too young to learn about it and to understand that they don't have to accept it.

Note: The scan is from page 42 (click to enlarge) and shows one of the more violent scenes, so you can have an idea of what to expect. Note too that Dounia is telling her story many years later to her little granddaughter, so young readers already know that she survived the war. All rights remain with the copyright holders.

Published by Roaring Brook Press / First Second, 2014
ISBN-13: 9781596438736
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)

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Imprint Friday: Introducing Algonquin Young Readers

Welcome to Imprint Friday and today's featured imprint: Algonquin Young Readers. Stop by each week to be introduced to a must-read title from one of my favorite imprints. I know you'll be adding many of these books to your wish list.

Did you know that Algonquin Books launched a new imprint this month? I can't tell you how excited I am about Algonquin Young Readers and the five books that are coming out in their first season. Before I introduce the books, let me share what Algonquin has to say about their new venture:

Algonquin Young Readers, launching Fall 2013, features books for readers seven to seventeen. From short illustrated novels for the youngest independent readers to timely and topical crossover young adult fiction, what ties our books together are unforgettable characters, absorbing stories and superior writing.

Our imprint is dedicated to publishing works of the same literary merit and enduring quality that are the hallmarks of our parent imprint, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

It's this commitment to outstanding books, no matter the age of the audience, that makes me thrilled to feature Algonquin Young Readers. Visit the imprint's website, and you'll quickly notice the sincerity behind their tag line "A Well-Read Life Begins Here." Motivated readers of all ages as well as parents, teachers, homeschoolers, and book clubs will find plenty of resources for learning and for reinforcing the idea that reading is fun and broadens your horizons.

The extra materials vary by title, and include essays by the authors, guides to the main characters, videos, educator guides, and reader guides. The materials are available as printable PDFs that are eye-catchingly designed with colorful graphics and fun fonts. Young or old, don't miss these great resources.

Now let's take a look at the initial catalog. I think you'll be as impressed as I am.

August. If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan (ISBN-13: 9781616202514) is like no book you've ever read. It's the story of two teenage girls who have been in love for most of their lives. But the stumbling blocks for Sahar and Nasrin are insurmountable. In their native Iran, homosexuality is a state crime, punishable by imprisonment or death. When Nasrin's parents make arrangements for her marriage, Sahar seriously contemplates sex reassignment surgery because, oddly, this is a legal choice in Iran. Farizan's debut novel, written for high schoolers, examines homosexuality, transgender identity, contemporary life in Iran, gender roles, love, marriage, families, and cultural expectations.

Amy Herrrick's The Time Fetch (ISBN-13: 9781616202200), written for middle grade readers, is an exciting fantasy adventure. When Edward disturbs a Time Fetch by mistake, the creature sends out his foragers, whose sole mission is to snatch up moments of time. When things get out of hand, and the entire structure of the universe threatens to collapse, Edward and three friends must find a way to defeat the Fetch and put things to right. Kids and adults alike will love the relationship among the friends and will be fascinated by the concept of missing time. Other themes revolve around ancient tales of the winter solstice as well as family, environmental issues, and teamwork.

September. Author Hollis Seamon took her own life experiences and put them into her novel, Somebody Up There Hates You (ISBN-13: 9781616202606), which explores the serious issue of childhood cancer. In all but one respect, Richard Casey is a regular, sometimes annoying, teenage boy. That one thing, though, is huge: he has terminal cancer and has moved into a hospice. Although you might think the story of a sick boy would be depressing, Seamon shows us that life goes on, even for the very sick. Richard meets Sylvie, another teen resident of the facility, and their friendship, hopes, and dreams show that, as the author says, teens will be teens no matter what the circumstances. This is a surprisingly uplifting and inspiring story, written for high schoolers.

Early readers (and adults!) will fall in love with Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise's Three-Ring Rascals: The Show Must Go On! (ISBN-13: 9781616202446). When circus owner Sir Sidney decides he'd rather sleep than travel, he puts an ad in the paper looking for a new manager who "must love children, popcorn, and animals." Barnabas Bumbles, a trained animal trainer, is sure he can keep the show going. Unfortunately, his ideas are too grandiose to be practical. The good news is that Leo the Lion, Elsa the Elephant, and the rest of the gang pull to together and save the circus. Kids will love the pencil drawings, short cartoons, and other cute illustrations that break up the text, making this delightful story loads of fun to read. Talking animals, silly jokes, and a few underlying messages of friendship and working together make this a winner.

October. Sea-loving Cecil and land-lubber Anton are brothers who live in a coastal town and star in the exciting new novel Anton and Cecil: Cats at Sea by Lisa Martin and Valerie Martin (ISBN-13: 9781616202460). When finicky Anton is captured by sailors and pressed into service as an on-board ratter, the more easygoing Cecil jumps aboard another ship, hoping to rescue his brother. Middle grade readers will be entranced by the world of the cats and their adventures at sea, all the while hoping that the siblings are somehow reunited. This beautifully written story of high-seas adventure, with its marvelous cast of cats, rats, dolphins, and whales is sure to become a classic, read and reread by young and old alike. Maps and charming black-and-while drawings illustrate the story.

For more about Algonquin Young readers, visit their website, like their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter.

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