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[CCBC-Net] Some Favorites of 2007
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From: Linda Silver <silverlr>
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:11:01 -0500
As the editor of the online guide to Jewish children's books called The Jewish Valuesfinder, www.ajljewishvalues.org, I read most books of Jewish content written for children and teens each year. These are my favorites of 2007. More information about them can be found in the Valuesfinder.
Good reading!
Linda Silver
MY NEW SHIRT by Cary Fagan. Illus. by Dusan Petricic. Tundra. Grades 1 - 3.
Every year on his birthday, David's dear bubbe gives him a stiff, white shirt, the kind that makes him look "a little gentleman." "Try it on," his parents and bubbe tell him, and the snapshot pictures of David, an adored but homely child, doing so with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm, are hilarious. The humor of both the story and illustrations are amplified by the format, which augments the vintage feel of the story with the look of a scrapbook.
THE ENTERTAINER AND THE DYBBUK by Sid Fleischman. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Grades 5 - 9.
In post-World War II Europe, a struggling American ventriloquist called The Great Freddie gets an offer of help for his failing act from a dybbuk, the ghost of a boy who was killed in the Holocaust. The dybbuk speaks for Freddy so that his ineptitude as a ventriloquist isn't visible and in gaining a voice, the dybbuk is able to speak out against the murder of himself and millions of others by the Nazis. An outstanding book, written with humor and compassion.
THE CASTLE ON HESTER STREET, New Edition, by Linda Heller. Illus. by Boris Kulikov. Simon and Schuster. Grades 1 - 4.
The 25th anniversary edition of this Sydney Taylor Award winning book, published originally by the Jewish Publication Society, replaces author Linda Heller's pleasant but dated pastel illustrations with Boris Kulikov's big, bright, and bouncy ones. Kulikoff is known for his exaggerated proportions and quirky perspectives so he was the perfect choice to illustrate this delightful immigration story that juxtaposes exaggerated hope with practical determination.
THE MYSTERIOUS EDGE OF THE HEROIC WORLD by E. L. Konigsberg. Simon and Schuster. Gr. 7 - 9.
The Nazis were quick to apply the label of "entartete" (degenerate) to many things they didn't like, including most modern art and music. What does this have to do with a novel for younger teens set in modern day Florida? It is a pivotal element in the plot about an edgy friendship between two adolescent boys and their discovery of a lost - or stolen - painting. As with most of the books by this highly talented writer, much is suggested and less is revealed directly, involving readers in a process of discovery as quirky and as challenging as the one that Amadeo and Will embark upon when they help Will's mother dispose of the belongings of an ex-opera singer who is moving from her decaying mansion to a housing complex for the elderly.
THE SILVER CUP by Constance Leeds. Viking. Gr. 6 - 9.
In Germany in 1096, a Catholic girl overcomes the era's rampant anti-Semitism to rescue to rescue and befriend a Jewish girl whose family has been murdered in a pogrom. The author's knowledge of everyday medieval life matched with an elegant writing style make this noteworthy.
THE EYE OF THE CROW by Shane Peacock. Tundra. Grades 6 - 9.
Sharp wits, a keen eye, and a strong ego are all aspects of a thirteen year old, half-Jewish misfit named Sherlock Holmes. His relentless tracking of a murderer foreshadows the daring and genius that will mark the legendary detective's future career. Set in the murky streets of Victorian London, rich in period detail and suspense, this is an auspicious beginning to what is probably intended to be a series.
CURES FOR HEARTBREAK by Margo Rabb. Delacorte. Grades 9 - 12.
Intense, poignant, but also at times very funny, 15-year-old Mia 's story of the year following the sudden death of her mother explores the nature of grief as she experienced it as a Jewish teenager. While containing some swearing, obscenities, and sex, this is based on the author's true experiences and is a highly moving, beautifully written look at death, illness, close family relationships, school, friendship and romance.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. Illus. by Regolo Ricci. Tundra. Kdg. - 3.
Watercolor paintings of farms and woodlands are the setting for this beautifully illustrated version of Psalm 23. The meaning of the psalm is reflected in scenes of farm animals grazing near the safety of a barn and wild animals living freely in the woods, sometimes within sight of their enemies. As the verses of the psalm glide by, so do the seasons of the year, from trees in blossom in the spring to bare branches covered with snow. Borders around each picture repeat the exquisite pictorial details that give new depth to the familiar words of comfort.
HOMELAND: THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL by William J. Rubin et al. Nachshon Press. Grades 7 - 12.
Imagine taking a semester-long course on the complete history of Israel, from the days of Genesis to events as recent as January 2007and taking a week-long field trip to Israel as part of this class. Using an innovative method of illustration that combines photographs and full-color digital art, HOMELAND is graphic nonfiction of the very highest quality. Written from an Israeli point of view, the text is balanced and well-documented with end notes and a bibliography. The pages are chock full of notable figures in Israel's history, from Abraham and Sarah to Ariel Sharon and Ilan Ramon. World events that have affected Israel, such as the Holocaust, the Gulf Wars, and the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, are covered, as are the contributions of Israelis to the arts, sciences, and technology.
HITLER'S CANARY by Sandi Toksvig. Roaring Brook Press. Grades 5 - 8.
An exciting and off-beat story about the Danish rescue of Jews during World War II. Bamse, the narrator, is part of a theatrical family and this gives the novel dramatic color. His older brother joins the Resistance almost immediately after the Nazis invade but his parents are reluctant to get involved until they learn that the Danish Jews, including some of their friends, are to be arrested and deported. All of them become rescuers, with each parent lending her or his particular talent to the effort. Multi-dimensional characters and a humorous writing style bring eleven year old Bamse, his family and friends to life, placing them in the position of unlikely heroes.
Received on Tue 18 Dec 2007 10:11:01 PM CST
Date: Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:11:01 -0500
As the editor of the online guide to Jewish children's books called The Jewish Valuesfinder, www.ajljewishvalues.org, I read most books of Jewish content written for children and teens each year. These are my favorites of 2007. More information about them can be found in the Valuesfinder.
Good reading!
Linda Silver
MY NEW SHIRT by Cary Fagan. Illus. by Dusan Petricic. Tundra. Grades 1 - 3.
Every year on his birthday, David's dear bubbe gives him a stiff, white shirt, the kind that makes him look "a little gentleman." "Try it on," his parents and bubbe tell him, and the snapshot pictures of David, an adored but homely child, doing so with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm, are hilarious. The humor of both the story and illustrations are amplified by the format, which augments the vintage feel of the story with the look of a scrapbook.
THE ENTERTAINER AND THE DYBBUK by Sid Fleischman. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. Grades 5 - 9.
In post-World War II Europe, a struggling American ventriloquist called The Great Freddie gets an offer of help for his failing act from a dybbuk, the ghost of a boy who was killed in the Holocaust. The dybbuk speaks for Freddy so that his ineptitude as a ventriloquist isn't visible and in gaining a voice, the dybbuk is able to speak out against the murder of himself and millions of others by the Nazis. An outstanding book, written with humor and compassion.
THE CASTLE ON HESTER STREET, New Edition, by Linda Heller. Illus. by Boris Kulikov. Simon and Schuster. Grades 1 - 4.
The 25th anniversary edition of this Sydney Taylor Award winning book, published originally by the Jewish Publication Society, replaces author Linda Heller's pleasant but dated pastel illustrations with Boris Kulikov's big, bright, and bouncy ones. Kulikoff is known for his exaggerated proportions and quirky perspectives so he was the perfect choice to illustrate this delightful immigration story that juxtaposes exaggerated hope with practical determination.
THE MYSTERIOUS EDGE OF THE HEROIC WORLD by E. L. Konigsberg. Simon and Schuster. Gr. 7 - 9.
The Nazis were quick to apply the label of "entartete" (degenerate) to many things they didn't like, including most modern art and music. What does this have to do with a novel for younger teens set in modern day Florida? It is a pivotal element in the plot about an edgy friendship between two adolescent boys and their discovery of a lost - or stolen - painting. As with most of the books by this highly talented writer, much is suggested and less is revealed directly, involving readers in a process of discovery as quirky and as challenging as the one that Amadeo and Will embark upon when they help Will's mother dispose of the belongings of an ex-opera singer who is moving from her decaying mansion to a housing complex for the elderly.
THE SILVER CUP by Constance Leeds. Viking. Gr. 6 - 9.
In Germany in 1096, a Catholic girl overcomes the era's rampant anti-Semitism to rescue to rescue and befriend a Jewish girl whose family has been murdered in a pogrom. The author's knowledge of everyday medieval life matched with an elegant writing style make this noteworthy.
THE EYE OF THE CROW by Shane Peacock. Tundra. Grades 6 - 9.
Sharp wits, a keen eye, and a strong ego are all aspects of a thirteen year old, half-Jewish misfit named Sherlock Holmes. His relentless tracking of a murderer foreshadows the daring and genius that will mark the legendary detective's future career. Set in the murky streets of Victorian London, rich in period detail and suspense, this is an auspicious beginning to what is probably intended to be a series.
CURES FOR HEARTBREAK by Margo Rabb. Delacorte. Grades 9 - 12.
Intense, poignant, but also at times very funny, 15-year-old Mia 's story of the year following the sudden death of her mother explores the nature of grief as she experienced it as a Jewish teenager. While containing some swearing, obscenities, and sex, this is based on the author's true experiences and is a highly moving, beautifully written look at death, illness, close family relationships, school, friendship and romance.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. Illus. by Regolo Ricci. Tundra. Kdg. - 3.
Watercolor paintings of farms and woodlands are the setting for this beautifully illustrated version of Psalm 23. The meaning of the psalm is reflected in scenes of farm animals grazing near the safety of a barn and wild animals living freely in the woods, sometimes within sight of their enemies. As the verses of the psalm glide by, so do the seasons of the year, from trees in blossom in the spring to bare branches covered with snow. Borders around each picture repeat the exquisite pictorial details that give new depth to the familiar words of comfort.
HOMELAND: THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL by William J. Rubin et al. Nachshon Press. Grades 7 - 12.
Imagine taking a semester-long course on the complete history of Israel, from the days of Genesis to events as recent as January 2007and taking a week-long field trip to Israel as part of this class. Using an innovative method of illustration that combines photographs and full-color digital art, HOMELAND is graphic nonfiction of the very highest quality. Written from an Israeli point of view, the text is balanced and well-documented with end notes and a bibliography. The pages are chock full of notable figures in Israel's history, from Abraham and Sarah to Ariel Sharon and Ilan Ramon. World events that have affected Israel, such as the Holocaust, the Gulf Wars, and the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, are covered, as are the contributions of Israelis to the arts, sciences, and technology.
HITLER'S CANARY by Sandi Toksvig. Roaring Brook Press. Grades 5 - 8.
An exciting and off-beat story about the Danish rescue of Jews during World War II. Bamse, the narrator, is part of a theatrical family and this gives the novel dramatic color. His older brother joins the Resistance almost immediately after the Nazis invade but his parents are reluctant to get involved until they learn that the Danish Jews, including some of their friends, are to be arrested and deported. All of them become rescuers, with each parent lending her or his particular talent to the effort. Multi-dimensional characters and a humorous writing style bring eleven year old Bamse, his family and friends to life, placing them in the position of unlikely heroes.
Received on Tue 18 Dec 2007 10:11:01 PM CST
