Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

Children’s Book Corner – March 2010

by Stephanie Dethlefs3/4/2010 12:58:18 PM

Welcome to the Neighborhood-Kids Children’s Book Corner! Each month I offer one title each for five different age groups, although by no means should the books be limited to certain ages. These recommendations are based on my experience as the parent of two young bookworms, a teacher, and a voracious reader of children’s literature. Happy reading!

For Baby Bookworms (Birth to 2)
Totty by Paola Opal (Simply Read Books, 2009)

A baby sea turtle hatches on a sandy beach, the last and smallest of his brothers and sisters. Watching them making their way down toward the water, he fears he won’t be able to catch up. But don’t let his size fool you; Totty is one clever little guy! The simple illustrations in this sweet book will charm little ones and keep them returning to its pages again and again.

For Preschool Power Readers (3-5)
The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane DeRolf
(Random House, 1997)

When a little girl comes across a crayon box in the store, she discovers that each crayon a little more opinionated than the next about the value of his neighbor. She brings them home and uses them one by one to draw a picture. When the crayons see the final result they realize that, despite their differences, they can create something wonderful together. The rhyming text and simple story will keep young readers engaged while they learn an important lesson about respecting diversity.

For School-age Scholars (6-8)
The Curious Garden by Peter Brown (Little, Brown, and Co., 2009)

Liam lives in a city without gardens. One day, his exploration of the dreary town takes him to an abandoned railway, where he finds a "lonely patch of color." Taking the wildflowers on as his project, he nurtures them and loves them and encourages them to grow free. And grow they do: into every nook and cranny of the drab urban community. The true surprise, though, is how the city dwellers react to the new splash of colorful joy outside their windows. Part magical adventure and part environmental commentary, this story is told less through its words than Brown’s remarkably beautiful and touching illustrations.

For Independent Intermediates (9-12)
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (Scholastic, 2001)

Brothers Prosper and Bo, orphans on the run from their aunt and uncle, have been taken in by a group of street smart kids living on their own in Venice. Their charismatic leader Scipio has dubbed himself the Thief Lord, and he and his followers dabble in a series of petty crimes in the name of survival. But when a big opportunity lands in their laps, loyalties are tested, magical secrets are revealed, and Scipio’s true identity emerges. The Thief Lord is an intriguing blend of mystery, suspense, and adventure, while at the same time exploring the true meaning of family.

For 'Tweens and Teens (13-15)
Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen (Delacorte Press, 1993)

What is freedom? What does one do with it? What makes you free? These are some of the many questions raised by this short but searing portrait of a slave plantation in the 1850s. Narrator Sarney, a 12-year-old slave girl on the Waller plantation, is aware that she doesn’t know much, so she takes every opportunity to learn what she can. Then Nightjohn, who once escaped to freedom, arrives in shackles at the plantation with the intention of teaching slaves to read. Sarney seizes the chance even though the price if caught is a bloody one. Author Gary Paulsen, well-known for his adventure tales (Hatchet, Mr. Tucket) has crafted in Nightjohn a historically accurate and humbling tale of what those in one of our country’s grimmest times would do, not just for survival, but to bravely reach out toward the light of freedom.

A Note About the Author: Stephanie Dethlefs

Stephanie Dethlefs is the mom of two children who writes, teaches, and runs the Young Writers Studio in her spare time. Originally from Seattle, she arrived in Bellingham in 1996. A perfect day would include playing outside with her husband and kids and getting lost in a book.