From: Kathleenodean at cs.com <Kathleenodean>
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2000 10:13:25 EST

Three books that I liked a lot this year:

CLICK CLACK MOO COWS THAT TYPE by Doreen Cronin, pictures by Betsy Lewin Hilarious picture book with excellent comic pacing and illustrations that suit the story. About some cows that go on strike.

JOHN RILEY'S DAUGHTER by Kezi Matthews An impressive first novel about a girl whose father abandons her at her grandmother's, but the grandmother doesn't want her. The grandmother never does become fond of the girl--something that happens to kids but isn't usually depicted in books. The end is a bit too pat, but otherwise I found it a remarkably honest novel.

THE ART OF KEEPING COOL by Janet Taylor Lisle Two boys in a small Rhode Island town during World War II witness the town's hate against a harmless German artist and deal with family secrets. Beautifully written, with a convincing portrayal of the boys' friendship and of the fear on the East Coast that the war was a real physical threat.

Kathy Odean Author, Great Books for GIrls Great Books for Boys kodean at compuserve.com
Received on Fri 08 Dec 2000 09:13:25 AM CST