The Black Pearl

In saying that this is not one of Scott O'Dell's stronger outings, I'm going against the fact that this 96 page book won not only Newbery Honors, but the Hans Christian Anderson Award and was an ALA Notable Book and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. I give it a 4 for Quality and a 3 for Acceptability. Alert: there is one reference to "having to slit your throat" (which doesn't happen). Talking points = faith versus reason/ Roman Catholic superstition. If I'm wrong on this one, please comment.

Frindle

This one's fun--just good clean fun, with a healthy dose of how words work. Andrew Clements' 105 page Christopher Award winning tale has a contemporary feel without ever sliding into the crudeness or disrespect that would have been so easy to do. Reading level 4.8. Let's give this one a 3 for Quality and a 4 for Acceptability (out of 5).

Song and Dance Man

The 1989 Caldecott Medal winner, this happy picture book features Grandpa's attic "with the smell of cedar chips and old things saved", lean, effective text and colorful drawings by Stephen Gammell that are as comfortable as, well, an old soft-shoe. Quality = 4; Acceptability = 5.

My Two Uncles

(You see this coming, don't you!)
I wouldn't have bothered with this piece of propaganda, except that it was on display at our public library, so I picked it up. A picture book targeted at young children, it is, very simply, a mediocre run at normalizing homosexuality. The story line is predictable, the illustrations attractive, but of average quality, and the message clear--we will all get along fine if we just accept any kind of behavior as normal. Parents! Take your kids to the library often, but please don't turn them loose, unattended, even in what should be the safe area of picture books. (You might find them curled up with one of Judith Vigna's other titles--My Big Sister Takes Drugs; I Wish Daddy Didn't Drink So Much; She's Not my Real Mother; Saying Goodbye to Daddy; or Mommy and Me By Ourselves Again. (I'm not making these up!)

The Hundred Dresses

Can someone please explain to me why this 78 page book by Eleanor Estes won the Newbery Honor in 1944? (Were all of the good writers away fighting the war?) Although frequently used, even today, by classroom teachers to address bullying, etc., the characters are one-dimensional, the theme moralistic and the artwork drab at best. Reading level = 4.5; Quality = 3; Acceptability = 5.

Books on books

With so many children's and youth books being published, (and such a high percentage of those either mediocre or outright garbage) how is a parent supposed to find worthy and useful titles?
Fortunately, there is help. I probably now own about a dozen books about kids' books, with lists of recommended titles. Of those, you need to own two of them. Both have stood the test of time and are regularly updated. Written from a deliberately Christian perspective, Gladys Hunt's Honey for a Child's Heart, is terrific. The other is The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. (Don't settle for older, used editions.) I will give you more details on each in future posts.

The Jazz Man

Although this Newbery Honor book from 1966 is written at the 4.5 reading level, it's PG on our shelves. On the plus side, Mary Weik's lyrical description of jazz music powerfully pairs with Ann Grifalconi's sensitive woodcuts. Only 42 pages, this book builds in intensity, but. I won't spoil it for you, but I've never cared much for this formula. A parent could choose to "read around" the references to alcoholism and making love with a saxophone. Quality = 4; Acceptability = 4

The Treasure of Plunderell Manor

At our school, PG means, well, PG; you know- Parental Guidance. Here's the way it works: Some books, especially those older youth titles that deal with "issues", are well enough written that they deserve to be enjoyed. However, respecting the primary right and obligation of parents to oversee the timely education of their children, we designate these titles as PG and only check them out to parents. We will only include titles that have merit, and will usually note the particular issue or concern to watch for.
This British historical fiction work by Bruce Clements, an improbable but entertaining mystery, includes a dozen or so phrases that don't meet our usual standards. It does provide opportunities to talk about what God is like as well as religion and superstition. Quality = 5; Acceptability = 3.

Fair Weather

Richard Peck's amusing slice of historical fiction rates a 5 for quality and 4 for acceptability (brief mention of "bad women" and "dancing girls". Publisher's Weekly credits "unforgettable characters, cunning dialogue and fast-paced action....captures a colorful chapter in American history." Talking points: early days of the women's rights movement. Reading level = 5.1

The Golden Key

George MacDonald's fairy stories still "work", although when I read them aloud I do find myself updating the language as I go. These are not to be missed and, fortunately, are usually still in print. This is one of his best. D Roller

The Light at Tern Rock

by Julia L. Sauer. Only 62 pages, this would be a good read-aloud for third to fifth graders at Christmas time. (Brief mention of the legend of the Christ Child making random visits on Christmas Eve.) Reading level: 5.4

Opening the doors on fit 2 READ

The focus here is on Youth fiction, with a little biography and other non-fiction thrown in. Watch for comments and short reviews, and please, participate by leaving your own comments. I will not comment on any book I haven't read myself, but I do plan to pass along review comments from other sources as well. This blog is an extension of the growing library at Mason County Christian School in Shelton WA. It is our desire to be useful to Christian parents and students who are looking for healthy, quality books for kids. Your comments will actually help us shape and refine our literature policy. Thanks for reading along with us. David Roller, Administrator