Ten Birds Meet a Monster by Cybelle Young - ADVISABLE

Young, Cybele Ten Birds Meet a Monster.  PICTURE BOOK.   Kids Can Press, 2013.  $16.95.  Content: G.

Birds and people think differently, but each way is correct.  A creative and easy story to show teamwork can be fun and that there is no wrong way to solve a problem.  The birds learn that the easiest way may just be to face it head on.  The illustrations are amazing and I would advise art teachers to use this to show progression in art.

EL-ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Mindy Tidwell

                   

Monet Paints a Day by Julie Danneberg - ESSENTIAL

Danneberg, Julie Monet Paints a Day, illustrated by Heimerl, Caitlin.  pgs. 29. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc., 2012.  $15.95.  G:  No inappropriate language,  mature content, or violence.  PICTURE BOOK.

 “Monet Paints a Day” is a terrific picture book.  The watercolor illustrations are fabulous – full of life, energy and color.   I read this book to my seven-year old granddaughter.  She said it was a great story!  In it, we learn about Claude Monet, one of the most famous impressionist painters.  We discover his personality, how he paints and thinks.  In the author’s words,

“Just as one of Monet’s paintings showed his feelings or impressions of a particular moment in time, so this story shows an impression of a day in Claude Monet’s extended life as a painter, a career that lasted more than sixty years and produced more than two thousand paintings.”

This is a wonderful book that describes Claude Monet and impressionism in an easy-to-understand manner.  Filled with lovely, eye-catching illustrations, this book is especially suited to school-aged children and adults.

ELEM/MS  – ESSENTIAL.   Mary Jane Burton, art teaher

Dr. Fuddle and the Gold Baton by Warren Woodruff - OPTIONAL

Woodruff, Warren L. Dr. Fuddle and the Gold Baton, 214 pgs. Story Merchant Books, 2012. Language - PG (2 swears, 0 "f"), Sexual Content - G; Violence - PG-13; 

Before she died, Tyler's mom told him that he would do something very important, and promised that she would send a sign when the time came for him to do it. That sign has finally come after two years, and Tyler is ready to see what this adventure will hold. What Tyler wasn't ready for, though, was for him and his friends to accomplish this important thing in a different realm. 

The idea of music affecting living and nonliving things in a physical way as to have a musical battle is a unique and fascinating one. I love the idea of it and it makes for a great story. However, Dr. Woodruff gets too technical with the music details and it gets confusing. Dr. Woodruff seemed to be too focused on the musical aspect, not realizing that those technicalities take away from the story when the readers do not understand them. I found these parts frustrating and ended up skipping several pages of the musical explanations. 

MS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: CCH

Tagged by Eric Walters - - Optional

Walters, Eric Tagged, 125 pgs. Orca Book Publishers; 2013. $9.95. Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  

The Wiz is a great artist, a great graffiti artist.  He wants to make a statement.  The mayor is cracking down on public programs and has cut funding to the swimming pool, the library, even the art gallery.  He also has vowed to stop the graffiti.  Should The Wiz be able to express himself anyway and anywhere he wants? 

Tagged is part of the Orca Soundings series; low level, high interest titles for High School students. This is not a very exciting story, I found it too educational which did not make it high interest. There are many misleading conversations meant to tease a certain character that would confuse an art novice.  The characters were flat, dialogue seemed forced, thin plot, disappointed reader.  

MS HS Optional.  Lisa Librarian

When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky by Lauren Stringer - OPTIONAL

Stringer, Lauren When Stravinsky Met Nijinsky, 27 pages, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  PICTURE BOOK.  

Stravinsky composed music that was wildly popular, and Nijinsky was a fabulous dancer who was known world-wide. However, both dreamed of doing something bigger and different. This story tells of their meeting and what they created together. 

It didn’t capture me as a reader, and I wasn’t interested in the story-line at all. This could be used in a music teacher’s classroom, but would not be necessary in a general library or classroom teacher’s library. 

EL (K-3)-OPTIONAL. Reviewer: AS, 2^ndgrade teacher

A World of Food by Carl Warner - ESSENTIAL

Warner, Carl A World of Food: Discover Magical Lands Made of Things You Can Eat!  Abrams, 2012.  $18.  Content: G.  PICTURE BOOK.  

I am so sorry that I have waited a year to tell you about this book!  Its only because I keep looking at it and marveling in its detail and creativity.  Warner is a food artist.  Really – he paints pictures with food.  Whole food, not pastes or goo and such.  Thankfully there is alsoa key at the back so that you know what he used for his masterpieces.  But just loose yourself in the fantastical landscapes  Warner has created.  Yum!!  

EL (K-3), EL – ESSENTIAL.  Cindy, Library Teacher