Charles Dickens: England’s Most Captivating Storyteller by Catherine Wells-Cole

Wells-Cole, Catherine. Charles Dickens: England’s Most Captivating Storyteller. Illus. by Templar Books. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011, Unpaged, Grades 4-6.

Readers who enjoy pop-outs will love the style of pictures, maps and text of this biography of Charles Dickens.  The author includes facts on society and culture at the time Dickens was alive to complement the biographical details.  The illustrations selected for the book are drawings and pictures completed during the Victorian time period.  Despite the wonderful illustrations, there is still a large amount of text, which might deter younger readers with short attention spans. This book would be a good addition to a school library for young students looking for biographical books. Ages 10 and up. ADY

Cheesie Mack Is not a Genius or Anything by Steve Cotler

Cotler, Steve. Cheesie Mack Is not a Genius or Anything. Illus. by Adam McCauley. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers, 2011, pp. 227, Grades 4-6.

“I’m Ronald Mack. People call me Cheesie. You can probably guess why.” With this humorous pun begins the story of Chessie Mack and his summer adventures after fifth grade. Cheesie is looking forward to his summer vacation, where he can spend time with his best friend Georgie at camp. Georgie can’t go to camp however, and in their quest to find new entertainment, they stumble upon an old letter that changes their summer. The black and white illustrations are not overwhelming and add small details to the story, which humorously focuses on the values of friendship and honesty in a manner sure to appeal to older elementary school children. A website for “Cheesie Mack” allows the children to continue to immerse themselves in Cheesie’s world. Ages 8-11. ADY

Starfish: A Novel by James Crowley

Crowley, James. Starfish: A Novel. Illus. by Jim Madsen. New York: Hyperion Books, 2010. 310pp. Grades 4-6.

Lionel and Beatrice, Blackfoot Nation siblings, have run away from the boarding school they were attending after a confrontation with Army soldiers and are searching for their grandfather in the Montana forests. The black and white illustrations, while limited, add realism to the story. Unfortunately for reluctant readers, the story is not action-packed, focusing more on character development. A few chapters are set in a different font, which could prove interruptive for some readers. Still, Lionel’s adventures will draw in determined older elementary school children. ADY

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

Robinson, Barbara. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Illus. by Laura Cornwell. New York: HarperCollins, 2011. Unpaged. Grades 3-6.

The Herdman’s, the craziest and wildest family in town, are performing in the Christmas pageant, to the shock the rest of the town. The Herdman’s decide the Wise Men should bring a ham and the Angel of the Lord, now a Herdman, likes to say “Shazam!” No one quite knows how the pageant will turn out, but it is bound to be exciting. The bright, cartoonish illustrations extend the text, which is taken from the children’s novel of the same title. Certain readers might feel the narrative was better served in novel format, but new readers are sure to enjoy this picture book adaptation. Ages 5-11. ADY

Love Waves by Rosemary Wells

Wells, Rosemary. Love Waves. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. Unpaged. Grades PreK-2.

Wells presents a delightful story about Little Bunny waiting for his parents to come home from work. The mother and father rabbit tell Little Bunny about love waves, the invisible waves of their love, as a way to help Little Bunny be brave while his mother and father “are far away or only down the hall”. The love waves are depicted as blue metallic swirls which make the pages pop and supplement for the slightly flat verse of the poems. Young children will like both these blue swirls and the brightly colored illustrations. This story can be helpful for those children who are anxious about being away from a parent. Ages 3-6. ADY

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright

Deedy, Carmen Agra and Randall Wright. The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale. Illus. by Barry Moser. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2011. 228 pp. Grades 4-6.

“He was the best of toms, he was the worst of toms.” Skilley, a homeless tomcat in Victorian London, finds a job as the official mouser at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, but his days seem numbered when his secret that he prefers cheese to mice threatens to come out. Skilley strikes up an unlikely friendship with Pip, a talented mouse who learns to write with his tail, and the other mice of the inn and agrees to keep them safe if they supply him with cheese. However, the insatiable alley cat Pinch is a constant threat to both Skilley and the mice. Can Skilley and Pip outsmart Pinch once and for all and finally live in peace? This fast-moving and uproarious novel that is one part fantasy and one part historical fiction is sure to win readers with its colorful and clever language and deftly crafted characters. The wit and whimsy of this fanciful tale will also draw in readers and give them a first taste of “ye olde London” and classic Dickensian style that they are sure to beg for more of on the library shelves. CCV

Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri

Neri. G. Ghetto Cowboy. Illus. by Jesse Joshua Watson. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2011. 211 pp. Grades 4-6.

Cole is lost and angry when his mother—fed up with the trouble he’s been causing at home and school—drives him from his home in Detroit to live with a father he’s never known in Philadelphia. Baffled by the urban cowboys that surround him, Cole struggles to find his niche and warm up to a distant father. But after forming a special bond with a horse named Boo, Cole finally understands “the cowboy way” and embraces who he really is. Neri’s heartwarming take on the real-life urban horsemen of Philadelphia and New York City that fight to keep kids off the streets takes on new meaning as readers relate to the outspoken Cole and his no-nonsense worldview. Readers will find it easy to relate to the challenges Cole faces in his new home and will cheer on him and his urban cowboy friends as they fight to keep their stables from being seized by the city. Neri’s easy, slang-driven narrative style will attract a diverse group of readers and leave them wanting a sequel to this inspiring tale. CCV