Archive for August, 2012

Want to Live Forever?

August 30, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Middle School (6-8), Mystery, Novels, Science Fiction · Tagged , , , , , , ,

Personally, I wouldn’t want to live forever (seems like it would get kinda long), but I’ve recently read a couple books that make the possibility intriguing.  No, these aren’t vampires or werewolves or any other kind of mystical creature that lives forever.  These books explore the possibility of living forever through scientific discovery, which I found very refreshing.  Another thing I love about these books…they are both stand-alones!  I love a good series as much as the next reader, but it’s so nice to read a book that starts and finishes all in one novel once in awhile.

Origin by Jessica Khoury. 9781595145956.  Coming out September 4th, 2012.  Grades 9-12.  (ARC Copy)

Pia is one of a kind, literally. Raised deep in the Amazonian rainforest on a restricted compound, she is the creation of a team of scientist striving to create an immortal race. The night of her 17th birthday, Pia discovers a way out of the compound and decides to explore the surrounding jungle. There she meets Eio, a local village boy, who helps her uncover secrets behind the scientists’ experiments. Readers who love science fiction and mystery will be tearing through the pages from this debut novelist.

I loved the mystery of this novel.  You know something sinister is going on within the compound, but I never guessed what it was until the author revealed it.  That kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the story.  Pia was also a believable character whose growth and self-realization was, in my opinion, realistically portrayed.  The romance was a little quick, but that can easily be overlooked by all the other great elements of this story.

Revived by Cat Patrick.  9780316094627.  2012.  Grades 7-12.  (ARC Copy)

Daisy Appleby has died five times in the last fifteen years. She is brought back to life each time with Revive, a drug created by a secret government agency. After her last brush with death, Daisy and the agents who monitor her move to Omaha, Nebraska for a fresh start. There she meets siblings Audrey and Matt. When her friendship with Matt turns deeper, and she finds out Audrey’s secret, Daisy starts to question the moral implications of Revive and the true intentions of the agency who created it.

Technically Daisy isn’t immortal, but since she can overcome death, I thought it still went with the theme of the post.  This novel had a good blend of romance, mystery, action mixed with everyday teen issues.  When they move to Nebraska, Daisy allows herself to connect with peers for the first time, and doing so makes her start questioning the life she’s been given due to the Revive drug.  The romance was sweet and realistically portrayed.  I thought all of the characters were done well actually.  This is a great read for anyone looking for science fiction that feels realistic…with a little romance thrown in.

Lindsey L.

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It’s Complicated…

August 27, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, Novels, High School, Realistic · Tagged , , , ,

“It’s complicated” is a Facebook relationship status option for a reason. No matter your age, romantic relationships can be quite complicated, but teen relationships can be particularly complicated due to youth and lack of life experience.

Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt takes on cheating.  The story begins on the first day of Hannah’s senior year of high school.  She is nervous about seeing her best friend Ava again after what has happened, since Ava has been at camp for most of the summer.  Then we flash back to the beginning of the summer as Hannah and Ava’s boyfriend Noah start spending more and more time together, and things get complicated when they start to feel like more than friends.  While this is a light read that fans of teen chick lit will enjoy, it doesn’t make light of the pain that comes from cheating for any of the parties involved.

Lauren Barnholdt’s latest novel, The Thing About the Truth, looks at another complication common in relationships: honesty.  Kelsey and Isaac are the last people you’d think would fall for each other.  From the moment they meet, they each judge the other pretty negatively.  Readers get both perspectives, so it’s easy to sympathize.  Kelsey does kind of come off as a snob, and Isaac does seem pretty entitled.  Of course, they soon get past these first impressions and find themselves falling in love.  Until one little lie ruins everything.  The humor and emotion in this novel will draw readers in and keep them reading.

My Life Next Door is a debut novel by Huntley Fitzpatrick that teen romance readers will not want to miss.  Samantha Reed has been secretly watching her next-door neighbors for years.  The Garrett family seems so completely opposite from her own quiet, picture-perfect family.  They are loud, affectionate, and seem so chaotic—all of which earn her mother’s disapproval.  Jase hardly seems like a bad boy, though.  He loves animals, he works hard at the family business, and he is very sweet to Samantha.  Their relationship is wonderfully uncomplicated until an accident changes everything, and Sam is torn between her mom and the boy she loves.  This is a romance that will stick with you. Highly recommended for older teen readers.

Want more romance?  Check out my post from last February, which featured three new romances.  More interested in the complications?  Try the books from this post about teens making difficult choices.  Either way, enjoy!

Bibliography:

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. June 2012. 9780803736993. Gr. 10-12

Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt. July 2011. 9781442413146. Gr. 9-12

The Thing About the Truth by Lauren Barnholdt. July 2012. 9781442434608. Gr. 9-12

Blogger: Mindy R.

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Book Review: The Last Dragonslayer

August 23, 2012 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, High School, Humor, Magic, Middle School (6-8), Novels, Reviews · Tagged , ,

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde. October 2012. 9780547738475. Gr 7-12.

It is difficult to describe a Jasper Fforde book.  As I sat down to write this review, I felt it was going to be hard to encompass the “vibe” of a Fforde novel.  On his website, he recognizes this, and provides a (somewhat) helpful answer about describing his books, as part of the site’s Frequently Asked Questions (which in and of themselves are a fun read):

Q: What sort of books are they?

A: Good question. An odd mix of Fantasy, Crime and Sci-fi. There’s romance, too, and literary stuff, and satire, and .. well, you name it.

I am happy to know that even Fforde himself has trouble defining what a Fforde novel is like!

I was first exposed to the hard-to-pigeonhole writing of Fforde with his Thursday Next series, which features a wry blend of British humor, literary references, and mystery.  In his first novel written for young adults, The Last Dragonslayer, Fforde’s sparkling wit is again front and center, but retooled a bit to cater to a younger audience.  Imagine the silliness of Monty Python blended with the magic of Harry Potter.

Taking place in an alternate-reality England (dubbed the Ununited Kingdom by Fforde), The Last Dragonslayer features a wonderfully intelligent and spunky heroine named Jennifer Strange.  She is an orphan who was raised in a convent, and with the mysterious disappearance of the Great Zambini, she is now in charge of Kazam Mystical Arts Management.  She manages a stable of magicians, which sounds pretty glamorous, but in reality is not what it seems.  The power of magic has dwindled over the years, and magicians are now employed to perform such mundane tasks as cleaning out drains or rewiring a house.  Jennifer is an indentured servant biding her time pushing paperwork for the agency and dealing with the egos and personalities of magicians who used to be powerful, but are not the respected wizards they once were.

When the kingdom’s psychics all foresee the death of Maltcassion, the kingdom’s last dragon, circumstances dictate that Jennifer will play a huge role in the event.  It appears that it is her destiny to be reluctantly entwined in the death of Maltcassion. But in the Ununited Kingdom, things aren’t always what they seem.  Jennifer must navigate a confusing path, using her own judgment, deciding who to trust and who has their own agenda, to make the right decision that will impact the future of the entire kingdom.

Fforde includes so much wit and cleverness it can sometimes be overwhelming, including memorable side-characters such as eccentric magicians, Transient Moose (a spell that started as a practical joke causes a moose to appear and reappear at random intervals and locations), and a unique animal called a Quarkbeast, who is described as “one tenth Labrador, six tenths velociraptor and three tenths kitchen food blender”.

This is a silly, fun read for middle-schoolers and up, and is the first title in a trilogy.  There are underlying themes of destiny, ethics, loyalty, and more in this tale, but at its heart, it is an entertaining read about a reluctant heroine. The Last Dragonslayer hits the shelves in the U.S. on October 2nd.

Blogger: Ryan H.

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Series Review : Gallagher Girls

August 20, 2012 · Filed under Fiction, High School, Middle School (6-8), Mystery, Novels · Tagged , , , ,

James Bond.  Jason Bourne.  Alex Rider. Maxwell Smart.  What do all of these fictional characters have in common?  They are all spies.  They are all male.  And they are all very good at their jobs (well, except for Maxwell Smart).  But how do spies learn what they need to know?

Welcome to the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a very exclusive boarding school for teenage girls who have been accepted because of their intelligence and skills.  But this isn’t merely a high-priced school for geniuses.  It’s actually a very, very secret all-girl school for spies-in-training.  Students learn to speak fluently in fourteen languages and practice advanced martial arts.  They attend classes in chemical warfare, advanced encryption, and covert operations.

Cammie Morgan and her roommates are 15 when the series begins.  On a classroom assignment to practice their spy skills in a nearby town, she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she is just an ordinary girl—and realizes the one thing that she has not learned at the Gallagher Academy is how to be a normal girl.

Though the first book is fun and full of action, it is fairly fluffy—not really the type of series that I would necessarily continue.  But as Cammie grows older, the situations that she finds herself in become more complicated, as do her relationships with her roommates and friends and her mother (the Academy’s headmistress).   She and her friends are distinct and realistic (as realistic as genius teen girls in a secret spy school can be), and all the major characters mature throughout the series.

And the books become much more serious, too. The girls find out that an ancient terrorist organization is hunting for someone—but who?  And why?  As the latest book begins, Cammie regains consciousness and realizes she has lost her memory of the summer.  Was she kidnapped?  Tortured?  Did she betray her school and her friends?

Despite the maturing of the books, they all remain very clean.  Boy-girl relationships don’t go past kissing, and I don’t think I recall even a damn or a hell.  It goes to show that YA books don’t need swearing and sex to be romantic, exciting, and suspenseful.

After reading the first book, I have listened to all of the audiobooks.  Renee Raudman does a spectacular job of giving each character a distinct voice.  (On a very personal note:  Thank you, Ally Carter, for creating Joe Solomon, the covert operations teacher; and thank you, Renee, for giving him such a dreamy voice.  Just like the girls in his classes, I think I’m in love.)

I only listen to books in the car, and I got wrapped up in the latest book on my way home Saturday.  So, since my to-do list included dusting and weeding (both my garden and my library), I decided to take a long drive through the Minnesota countryside and finish my book.  The drive was relaxing, the countryside was beautiful, and the book was great!

The Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter. 2012. Gr 7-12.

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You. 9781423100034. 2006.

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy. 9781423100058. 2007.

Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover. 9781423116387. 2009.

Only the Good Spy Young. 9781423128205. 2010.

Out of Sight, Out of Time. 9781423147947. 2012.

Blogger:  Tracey L.

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Can’t get enough of fairytale re-tellings?

August 16, 2012 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, High School, Magic, Middle School (6-8), Novels, Romance · Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Me neither!  As I mentioned in a previous post, I love fairytale re-tellings.  They always contain a sweet romance where love conquerors all and evil doesn’t stand a chance against the pure in heart.  I know, I know…it’s sappy and cheesy, but sometimes you need a little sap and cheese in your life!  Another aspect I love about these books is that they are almost always clean.  I work with the teen girls in my church, and at times I struggle to find titles for them that meet the standards our church has set.  Most YA fairytale re-tellings (the two featured titles included) offer a sweet, clean romance that I can wholeheartedly recommend to my girls.  While there are many fairytale re-tellings, today I’m going to focus on my two favorites that have come out so far this year.

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis.  May 2012.  9780547645704.  Gr. 7-12. (ARC Copy)

Sunday often feels overlooked as the youngest in a very large family, so when she meets an enchanted frog in the woods who enjoys listening to her stories, she returns time and time again until their friendship turns deeper.  One night, as per custom, she kisses him goodbye, but this time she is unaware that her changing feelings have turned him back into the man he was, Prince Rumbold.  Prince Rumbold is determined to find Sunday and marry her, but there’s just one problem;  Sunday’s family blames him for the death of her oldest brother, and the Prince knows Sunday would never betray her family.  He decides to hold three balls in order to woo Sunday and her family, but magic and mischief  threaten to separate them forever.

Delightful is the word that sums up this title.  It was absolutely delightful.  I loved Sunday and Prince Rumbold’s romantic storyline, but Kontis incorporates so much more.  She interweaves fairytale after fairytale including Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Jack and the Beanstalk, Red Riding Hood, and so many more.  I would recommend this title to any fairytale lover out there, and they are sure to be a happy reader!

The Sweetest Spell by Suzanne Selfors.  Coming out August 21st 2012.  Gr. 7-12.  (ARC Copy)

Emmeline Thistle has always had a special relationship with cows.  They saved her the night she was born after she was cast aside by her father because of her crippled foot, and they save her again when her entire village washes away in a flood.  Owen Oak, the dairyman’s son, discovers her half drowned and takes her home to recover.  It’s there that Emmeline learns why her people are so hated by the kingdom, and where she learns a secret about herself.  Whenever she churns butter, she turns it into chocolate, the most precious substance in all the kingdom.  Immediately, she is kidnapped and used by greedy, power-hungry people that wish to exploit her gift.  Emmeline must stay true to herself no matter the cost if she is to free her people and gain her “happily ever after.”

I wasn’t sure about this title at first.  I’m from Wisconsin and love cows as much as the next person, but magical cows?  I wasn’t sold on that story line, but Selfors wove the story so naturally that I didn’t question it once I started reading.  I loved Emmeline’s character and how she grew from a timid girl accepting that she would never be worth anything, to a strong heroine who stands up against the kingdom for her people.  (Although it bugged me a little at the end when she still didn’t think she was good enough for Owen).  Finally, Selfors narrates the book from both Emmeline’s and Owen’s point of view, and I greatly enjoyed reading their story from both sides.

And since I can’t help myself, here are a few more of my favorite fairytale re-tellings:

Dixon, Heather – Entwined (See my full review here)

George, Jessica Day – Princess of the Midnight Ball, Princess of Glass & Princess of the Silver Woods

Hale, Shannon – The Books of Bayern series (Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River Secrets & Forest Born)

McKinley, Robin – Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & The Beast

Lindsey L.

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Book Review: Cardboard

August 13, 2012 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Middle School (6-8), Reviews · Tagged , , , ,

Cardboard by Doug TenNapel. August 2012. 9780545418720. Gr. 6-8. (Reviewed from ARC)

One of my favorite books as a kid started with a cardboard box.  I am thrilled that Christina Katerina and the Box by Patricia Lee Gauch, first published in 1971, is back in print as of April 2012! I love that I can now share this tribute to imaginative play and creativity with my young daughter. I think she will get a kick out of Christina Katerina, the original Fancy Nancy if there ever was one!  Cardboard by Doug TenNapel is about as far from “fancy” as you can get, but it was definitely my childhood love for Christina Katerina and her imagination that drew me to it.  Cardboard is for the kids who have outgrown playing with cardboard boxes but still think about the possibilities.

This graphic novel begins with a man looking for work.  Young readers might not immediately empathize with the man’s situation, but when he meets a mysterious man named Gideon selling cheap toys, things start to get interesting.  Gideon sells him a cardboard box for only $0.78 with a promise of a father-son adventure.  The only catch is that any unused cardboard must be returned and there is no more available—no matter what.  It seems weird, but whatever, right?

Cam doesn’t let the fact that all he gets for his birthday is an empty box get him down.  He’s excited to get to work on a project with his dad.  Together, they work all night to make a boxer out of the cardboard.  But after they fall asleep, their cardboard man comes alive.  Maybe it’s magic.  Maybe it’s advanced alien technology.  Who knows for sure?  All Cam knows is that he has a new friend, and more cardboard to make whatever he wants.  Of course he doesn’t return what he hasn’t used, and of course that goes horribly wrong when it falls into the hands of the neighborhood bully, who can’t control what he creates from the cardboard.

This is a fantastic adventure that will surely appeal to Doug TenNapel’s many young fans, and the sympathetic adult character may draw in parent readers as well.  While my four-year-old daughter and I will stick to bonding over Christina Katerina, middle school boys and their dads just might  find  Cardboard‘s action-packed story that culminates in Cam and his father saving the day is a favorite they can share.

Blogger: Mindy R.

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Book Review : Seraphina

August 9, 2012 · Filed under Fantasy, Fiction, High School, Mackin Picks, Novels, Reviews · Tagged , ,

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman. 9780375866562. 2012. Gr 9-12.

The English journalist and bibliophile Holbrook Jackson said, “Books worth reading are worth re-reading.”

I am a steadfast re-reader.   I get as much pleasure reading my favorite books over again as I do reading a good book for the first time.  For example, every time I recommend Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s Good Omens to someone, I end up pulling my own copy off the shelf and calling in sick to work.

Some books I re-read almost every year.  Robin McKinley’s The Blue Sword, Clare Dunkle’s The Hollow Kingdom, and Elizabeth Marie Pope’s The Perilous Gard all have a similar feel to me, with their realistic fantasy settings, legendary characters, and strange powers.  And, best of all, totally un-sappy romance.

Seraphina has this same feel to it, and I’ve added it to my yearly re-reading list. Actually, I am already reading it for the second time (it went on sale less than a month ago).

For forty years, the treaty between humans and dragonkind in the kingdom of Goredd has kept the peace, though there is little friendship or understanding between them.  Humans think dragons are disgusting and inferior creatures, while dragons find humans to be…interesting.  Some dragons live among humans; they have the ability to fold themselves up and take human shape, but if they do, they must wear silver bells to warn humans of their presence.

Seraphina is the new assistant to the court composer at the king’s palace and is preparing for the festivities to celebrate the treaty anniversary.  The Queen’s son has just been brutally killed on a hunting trip—and it appears that a dragon might be the murderer.  Since her father is an expert on dragons and the law, Seraphina is familiar with dragon customs.  Drawn into the investigation with the perceptive captain of the guard—who also happens to be the fiancé of the Queen’s granddaughter—Seraphina discovers an evil plot that aims to destroy the fragile peace.

But Seraphina has more to worry about than preparing music and solving murders.  Before her birth, her father had unknowingly married a dragon in human form.  He didn’t learn the truth until his beloved wife died in childbirth.  Only when bands of scales started growing on her arm and around her waist did Seraphina find out that she was a half-dragon.

Seraphina has lived a desperately lonely and solitary life.  The very idea of a human mating with a dragon is an abomination.  If her secret is discovered, she knows she will, at best, become an object of scorn and disgust.  At worst, she and her father could be killed by angry mobs.

Hartman has created a fascinating, intricate world with detailed customs, religion, and social problems.  Most of her characters are interesting and believable within the world she has created.  Seraphina herself is intelligent, creative, and independent—definitely not a damsel in distress.  And the dragons are unlike any I’ve ever met.

So far, Seraphina has received five starred reviews and is definitely a Mackin Pick as well!

More quotes on re-reading:

To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one.  (Chinese Saying)

Rereading, we find a new book.  (Mason Cooley)

No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally—and often far more—worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond. (C.S. Lewis)

Blogger:  Tracey L.

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The Great Outdoors

August 6, 2012 · Filed under Intermediate (3-5), Nonfiction, Primary (K-2), Professional, Science · Tagged , , , ,

We live in an increasingly technological world.  It has become commonplace to see people, oblivious to their surroundings, staring at a computer, swiping through screens on their phone, or speedily thumbing out texts to friends and family.  I am as guilty as any when it comes to loving technology.  I am a gadget guy that thoroughly appreciates how technology has made our lives easier.  However, while technology has led us to be constantly connected digitally to one another, it has eroded our connectedness to nature.

A few years ago, I read Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv.  The author coined the term “nature-deficit disorder” to describe how today’s children are much less connected to nature, and how he believes this is a contributor to obesity, attention deficit disorder, and depression.  I remember finishing the book and thinking that it should be required reading for every parent of a young child.  I still feel that way, and its influence helps me find the balance between being “plugged in” and “unplugged”.

In the spirit of Last Child in the Woods, I would like to highlight a couple of series, appropriate for elementary school students, that have recently come across my desk.  I think they will help get kids interested and excited about getting out and exploring nature.

The Great Outdoors set is a fantastic introduction to many popular outdoor activities, with titles about Rock Climbing, Camping, Hunting, Fishing, Caving, and Kayaking/Rafting.  Each title in the series features attractive photos, a glossary of terms, tips, informative captions, and factoids.  Do you want to learn how to do an “Eskimo roll” in a kayak? Learn the history of the s’mores recipe? Debate the pros and cons of hunting? See what a mineral formation known as a “gypsum flower” looks like?  Learn which lure or bait to use for different fish? It’s all here in this series.

Compared to The Great Outdoors series, you might think the Tough Guides series will discourage kids from going outside, as it deals with what to do when something goes wrong while in nature.  However, kids will gather lots of information about the natural world while enjoying the danger and adventure aspect of the different scenarios.  Each book in the series has a different habitat in which to survive, including a desert island, mountain, the Arctic/Antarctica, a desert, a rainforest, and an ocean.

Much like the Great Outdoors series, this series features eye-catching photography, a wealth of facts, and a well laid-out format.  There are also valuable survival tips and entertaining stories of real people that survived harrowing situations.  Safety is always stressed in the books, and there are many tips on how to be prepared for survival in each of the habitats.

Ponder this…kids in a 2002 study identified 25 percent more Pokemón characters than wildlife species at eight years old. (Balmfold, Clegg, Coulson and Taylor, 2002)  If that isn’t reason enough to get more nature books into the hands of our children, then nothing is!

Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv. 2008. 9781565126053. Adult.

Camping (Great Outdoors), by Adeline Snyder. August 2012. 9781433970870. Gr 2-5.

Caving (Great Outdoors), by Maeve Sisk. August 2012. 9781433970917. Gr 2-5.

Fishing (Great Outdoors), by E.T. Weingarten. August 2012. 9781433970955. Gr 2-5.

Hunting (Great Outdoors), by Robert Kennedy Shea. August 2012. 9781433970993. Gr 2-5.

Kayaking and Rafting (Great Outdoors), by Raymond Harasimiw. August 2012. 9781433971037. Gr 2-5.

Rock Climbing (Great Outdoors), by A.J. Weingarten. August 2012. 9781433971075. Gr 2-5.

How to Survive in the Arctic and Antarctica (Tough Guides), by Louise Spilsbury. 9781448878666. August 2012. Gr 4-6.

How to Survive in the Desert (Tough Guides), by Angela Royston. August 2012. 9781448878673. Gr 4-6.

How to Survive in the Ocean (Tough Guides), by Louise Spilsbury. August 2012. 9781448878680. Gr 4-6.

How to Survive in the Rainforest (Tough Guides), by Angela Royston. August 2012. 9781448878697. Gr 4-6.

How to Survive on a Desert Island (Tough Guides), by Jim Pipe. August 2012. 9781448878703. Gr 4-6.

How to Survive on a Mountain (Tough Guides), by Louise Spilsbury. August 2012. 9781448878710. Gr 4-6.

Blogger: Ryan H.

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Spotlight on Alison Jay

August 2, 2012 · Filed under Picture Books, Primary (K-2) · Tagged ,

To say that I’m a fan of Alison Jay’s work would be an understatement.  It’s more like I squeal with joy every time I see that she’s coming out with something new.  My co-workers make fun of me, and friends at baby showers have come to expect the Alison Jay board book library from me.  I can’t help it; I think she’s a genius.  I love her work and the fun she has with it.  Every time I read a book that she has either written or illustrated, I find new things in the artwork to gush over (much to the annoyance of said co-workers and friends).  So as I was thinking about what I should blog on today, it hit me.  Why not share my love of Alison Jay with all of you?!  Here are some of my absolute favorites and below you’ll find a fuller bibliography of her books.  Enjoy!!

Let me begin with the Alison Jay baby board book library I was talking about earlier.  Whenever a family member or a friend has a baby, these three titles always make it in the gift basket.

123: A Child’s First Counting Book. (2009 board book version)

Alison Jay mixes counting with fairytales as a child dreams that she travels on a golden goose to different nursery rhyme and fairytale scenes.  Each new spread features a number starting with 1 and going to 10, and then counting back down again.  Observant readers will notice that on every spread, Jay includes multiple sets of the featured number.  For example, the number 3 features 3 little pigs, 3 teacups, 3 cupcakes, 3 cushions, etc.  Jay also leaves clues foreshadowing the next spread.

ABC: A Child’s First Alphabet Book. (2005 board book version)

This book is very similar to Jay’s counting book.  Each spread includes the upper and lower case form of the letter, and the featured object is surrounded by other objects also beginning with the same letter.  Jay also uses foreshadowing so observant readers can try to guess what will be on the next page.

Picture This… (2002 board book version)

This book differs slightly from the first two and features random objects such as a clock or a ball.  The book spans a 24 hour day, but the seasons shift throughout the book as well.  I love how each page only features one word and readers can make up their own story of what’s happening on the page.  Jay also uses foreshadowing in this book so children and adults alike will have fun trying to guess what will be featured on the next page.

Alison Jay has also written and illustrated Red, Green, Blue: A First Book of Colors (2010), and while I personally own this one, I don’t include in the baby library collection because it hasn’t come out in board book yet.  I hope that someday it will, because it is a wonderful concept book too.  Much like 123 and ABC, the book weaves through fariytales and nursery rhymes while looking at a new color every page.  One thing I love about it is that Jay includes some non-traditional colors like turquoise, gold, and silver.

Jay has also done some great books for the holiday season.

The Nutcracker (2010)

Jay brings the nutcracker to life with her whimsical illustrations as the main character Clara is whisked off to adventure with her nutcracker.  The text is an abbreviated version of the story so it makes a great read-a-loud.  This book is a must for the holidays.

Song of the Stars: A Christmas Story.  Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Alison Jay.  (2011).

Lloyd-Jones brings the animal kingdom to life in this unique retelling of the nativity, and how not only the sheep and cows, but whales, salmon, lions, and more make their way toward the manger.  This sweet nativity story is made all the better by Jay’s beautiful illustrations.  Another must-have for Christmas.

Christmastime (November, 2012)

This one doesn’t come out until November, but I’m already excited about it.  Alison Jay takes a brother and sister through the joys of the holidays featuring Santa Claus, the North Pole, reindeer, carolers and more.  Like Picture This… Jay only features one item per page, giving readers more time to pour over her illustrations.  And in true Alison Jay fashion, she hides a reference to a Christmas song in every illustration and includes a key in the back of the book.  This book will definitely be joining my Alison Jay collection in November!

Here’s a fuller Alison Jay bibliography.

Works written and illustrated by Alison Jay:

123: A Child’s First Counting Book. (2009 board book version)

ABC: A Child’s First Alphabet Book. (2005 board book version)

Animal Parade (2011 board book version)

Christmastime (November, 2012)

The Nutcracker (2010)

Picture This… (2002 board book version)

Red, Green, Blue: A First Book of Colors (2010)

Welcome to the Zoo (2008)

Works written by other authors and illustrated by Alison Jay:

Alice in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll.  (2006)

A Child’s First Book of Prayers written by Lois Rock.  (2002).

Cloud Spinner written by Michael Catchpool.  (2012)

I Took the Moon for a Walk written by Carolyn Curtis.  (2008)

If Kisses Were Colors written by Janet Lawler.  (2003)

Listen, Listen written by Phillis Gershator.  (2007)

Lindsey L.

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