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Fall
2001 Children's Book Sense 76 Picks
Here are the 76
most noteworthy new and recent children's books, as compiled from hundreds
of recommendations by independent booksellers across America. One bookseller's
quote has been chosen to represent each of these top vote-getters.
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 Sisterhood
of the Traveling Pants, The
by Brashares, Ann
(Teen, Delacorte, $14.95, 0385729332)
"The only thing four 15-year-old girlfriends have to connect them throughout a long summer apart is a pair of $3.49 thrift store jeans -- jeans that miraculously fit each girl perfectly. The magic traveling pants will be sent to each girl twice, in the hopes that the girl wearing the pants will have an incredible adventure, make lasting memories, and remember the power of love and friendship." - Nikki Mutch, UConn Co-op, Storrs, CT
Love That Dog
by Creech, Sharon
(Ages 9 - 12, HarperCollins, $14.95, 0060292873)
" 'I don't want to because boys don't write poetry. Girls do.' So begins the saga between young writer, Jack, and his encouraging teacher, Miss Stretchbery. This short novel, written in poetry form, allows us to follow along as Jack finds pride in writing. What a gift this book is to aspiring authors and their teachers." - Marilyn Smith, Hawley-Cooke Booksellers, Louisville, KY
Seeing Stone, The
by Crossley-Holland, Kevin
(Teen, Scholastic, $17.95, 0439263263)
"While many writers have tried their hands at the Arthurian saga, this author has truly brought it to life. He combines humor with rich prose and scholarship, with characters you care about. Here is the first in a trilogy that will, like Harry Potter, be enjoyed by readers of all ages." - Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME
Sands of Time, The
by Hoeye, Michael
(Teen, Terfle Books (PGW), $12.95, 0967511127)
"Another wonderful adventure for Hermux Tantamoq and his merry band of rodents. This one includes a desert, a hidden library, and the legendary monsters: cats!" - Diane Smith-Hill, A Children's Place, Portland, OR
 Petite
Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood
by Artell,
Mike, illustrated by Jim
Harris
(Ages 4 - 8, Dial, $15.99, 0803725140) "Red Riding Hood is a duck and the
Wolf is a gator in granny's clothes. Told in rolling Cajun dialect rhyme that
ambles off the page, the gator is dispatched with a big dose of hot sauce. 'Whatchoo
havin' fo lonch?'" - Kelly Justice, Fountain Books, Richmond, VA
Take Me Out of the Bathtub: And Other Silly Dilly Songs
by Katz,
Alan, illustrated by David
Catrow
(Ages 4 - 8, Margaret McElderry Books (S&S), $15.00, 0689829035)
"My co-workers and I have hardly been able to conduct business lately. We have been lying on the floor convulsive while singing the songs in the book. AND...the illustrations by Catrow are absolutely wonderful." - Alicia Greis, Colorado College Bookstore, Colorado Springs, CO
Great Good Thing, A
by Townley, Roderick
(Ages 8 - 12, Atheneum (S&S), $17.00, 0689843240)
"Princess Sylvie is growing tired of her 'storybook' life, so when a new reader, Claire, picks up her book, Sylvie breaks all the rules by crossing over into Claire's dreams! So much more happens in this little book, so get started! You will love it!" - Trish Brick, R.J. Julia's, Madison, CT
 Ted
by Diterlizzi,
Tony
(Ages 4 - 8, Simon & Schuster, $16.00, 0689832354) "An awesome kid's book.
If you haven't read it yet, do! A little boy's father is too busy working to
spend time with him....that is, until pinkish-purplish, raspberry cereal-eating,
imaginary friend Ted comes to play. Fabulous illustrations. And the adventures
they have are hysterical!" - Beth Plattner, Fishing With Your Mind,
Walker, MN
Witch Child
by Rees, Celia
(Teen, Candlewick, $15.99, 0763614211) "Through the journal of Mary Newbery,
the story of her grandmother's death by hanging for witchcraft unfolds. Mary finds
passage to America in 1659, where she becomes part of an inflexible Puritan community.
Her desire to belong, resistance to conform, and eventual self-acceptance will
provide teens with a truly heroic model to emulate." - Kathy Carrigan,
Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops, Milwaukee, WI
 Witness
by Hesse,
Karen
(Ages 9 - 12, Scholastic, $16.95, 0439271991) "A remarkable book, written
in poetic form using 11 different voices, telling of the effect of the Ku Klux
Klan on a 1924 Vermont community. Suspenseful, scary, yet often funny and thrilling,
it is the saga of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. How they then
react and survive is both tragic and heroic. A wonderful new novel from Hesse."
- Marge Grutzmacher, Passtimes Books, Sister Bay, WI
 Educating
Esme: Diary of A Teacher's First Year
by Codell, Esme Raji
(For Parents and Children, Algonquin, $10.95, 1565122798)
"This is great and inspiring for teachers! And affordable now that it's just out in paperback." - Bud Gaston, Butterfly Books, DePere, WI
Mrs. Spitzer's Garden
by Pattou,
Edith, illustrated by Tricia
Tusa
(Ages 3 - 7, Harcourt, $16.00, 0152019782)
"Mrs. Spitzer is a remarkable teacher who knows about gardens and children and how they both flourish if tended lovingly. It's a simple story with whimsical illustrations that celebrates teachers who help children grow and blossom; a perfect gift for a wonderful teacher as well as an outstanding picture book." - Sidney Jackson, Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO
Thank You, Mr. Falker
by Polacco, Patricia
(Ages 4 - 8, Philomel (Penguin Putnam), $16.99, 0399231668) "Polacco's books
are all so wonderful, but this is my favorite. It is both a thank you to an actual
teacher she had, as well as a tribute to all the special teachers who have made
a real difference in the lives of the children they teach." - Dave Kaverman,
Little Professor Book Company, Ft. Wayne, IN
 Year
of Miss Agnes, The
by Hill,
Kirkpatrick
(Ages 8 - 12, Simon & Schuster, $16.00, 0689829337) "Told from the point
of view of 10-year old Frederika, this is the amazing story of Miss Agnes Sutterfield,
teacher extraordinaire!Miss Agnes comes to the rural one room schoolhouse in
an Alaskan fishing village in 1948 and transforms her students into curious,
questioning learners who love school." - Jenn Fontaine, Bookrack &
Children's Pages, Essex, VT
 My
First Dictionary
by Root,
Betty, illustrated by Jonathan
Langley
(Ages 4 - 8, Dorling Kindersley, $17.95, 1564582779) "This is the ultimate
dictionary, with a picture for EVERY word. With these pictures, my son can verify
that he has found the word he is looking for." - Heidi Waterston, Bookshelf,
Quincy, CA
 Backpack
Baby
by Cohen, Miriam
(Toddler - Preschool, Star Bright, $6.95, 1887734589)
"I love the scenes of baby and his daddy experiencing the world through the baby's eyes from his perch in the backpack. A surprise ending will keep you reading this book over and over to your toddler." - Tom Heywood, Babbling Book Haines, AK
 Humphrey's
Corner
by Hunter, Sally
(Toddler - Preschool, Holt, $14.95, 0805067868)
"I fell in love with Humphrey the first time I saw this wonderful book. I think this book is this year's Olivia!" - Jenne Herbst, Quail Ridge Books and Music, Raleigh, NC
Preschool
to the Rescue
by Sierra,
Judy, illustrated by Will
Hillenbrand
(Toddler
- Preschool, Harcourt, $15.00, 0152020357) "A creepy mud  puddle
sucks in the kid's favorite vehicles, until jolly rhymes and jaunty pictures introduce
the rescuers. A great get-ready-for-reading experience and even greater read-aloud
just for fun!" - Darlene Daniel, PAGES, Books for Children and Young
Adults, Tarzana, CA
What Do You Know!
by Cauley, Lorinda
(Toddler - Preschool, Putnam, $15.99, 0399235736)
"A great book in rhyme where children are asked to interact on every page. The illustrations are delightful and fun. A must for every preschool classroom." - Jennifer Naselaris, The Book Bag, Valparaiso, IN
 Movie
In My Pillow, A / Una Pelicula En Mi Almohada
by Argueta,
Jorge, illustrated by Elizabeth
Gomez
(Ages 4 - 8, Children's Book Press, $15.95, 0892391650) "Argueta does an
excellent job of telling the story of how he immigrated here as a young boy. He
tells of his experiences through poetry in Spanish and English while the illustrator
captures the young dreamer as well as the beauty of El Salvador and San Francisco."
- Meredith Abey, Wild Rumpus Books, Minneapolis, MN
Ruben's
Rainbow / El Arco Iris de Ruben
by Harrison,
Carlos, illustrated by Grizelle
Paz
(Ages 4 - 8, Globo Libris, $15.95, 0970695306) "A charming book. Ruben
falls out of his bed in a black & white world, landing in a world of colors!
This bilingual book will spark a lot of discussion." - Mary Burns,
The BookWorks, Marysville, WA
 Baloney
(Henry P.)
by Scieszka,
Jon, illustrated by Lane
Smith
(Ages 4 - 8, Viking, $15.99, 0670892483)
"Henry P. Baloney may be from another planet, but he's got problems just like you and me. Read on!" - Ben Pealer, The Bookstore Plus, Lake Placid, NY
Burnt Toast on Davenport Street
by Egan, Tim
(Ages 4 - 8, Sandpiper (Houghton Mifflin), $5.95, 0618111212)
"A charming offbeat tale of two dogs, a talking fly and magical possibilities. Its wry sense of humor and happy ending make me smile every time I read it." - Laura Huemer, The Town Book Store, Maplewood, NJ
Dumpy
La Rue
by Winthrop,
Elizabeth, illustrated by Betsy
Lewin
(Ages 4 - 8, Holt, $15.95, 0805063854) "The text and illustrations are
hilarious, but best of all, this book has a wonderful underlying message that's
clear without being preachy: Celebrate yourself and pay no mind to the naysayers!
Dumpy La Rue simply refused to believe he couldn't dance because he was a pig."
- Paulette Zander, Happy Carrot, Old Lyme, CT
 Hannah
and the Homunculus
by Hassler,
Kurt, illustrated by K.L.
Darnelll
(Ages 4 - 8, Sleeping Bear Press, $15.95, 1585360430) "Hannah has her 'No'
stolen by a menacing rag doll who is trying to increase his own vocabulary.
After a day of complying with her parents' every wish, Hannah stumbles upon
the Homunculus and the two of them negotiate a deal to get her 'NO' back. Beautifully
illustrated, this book is sure to get a smile from even the most contrary kid."
- Katie Sondergaard, Howard Street Booksellers, Hibbing, MN
Invisible
String, The
by Karst,
Patrice, illustrated by Geoff
Stevenson
(Ages 4 - 8, DeVorss, $15.95, 0875167349) "A wonderful story about the
invisible string that connects loved ones. Whenever one thinks about another
member of the family, the string gives a tug and you feel it." - Shirley
Russell, Catch Our Rainbow Children's Bookstore, Torrance, CA
 Larky
Mavis
by Cole, Brock
(Ages 4 - 8, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16.00, 0374343659)
"This is my 'darling of the year.' A gentle bow to the gifts and delights of social outcasts, the book is never preachy, but profound as only text and illustrations perfectly matched by the same mind can be." - Carol Chittenden, Eight Cousins, Falmouth, MA
 Pearl
by Atwell, Debby
(Ages 4 - 8, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00, 0395884160)
"A journey through history as Pearl tells her family's -- and America's -- story. Accessible and told with humor and poignancy, this is a wonderful introduction to American history and simply a great read." - Kathleen Carey, Little Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany, NY
Pugdog
by U'ren, Andrea
(Ages 4 - 8, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16.00, 0374361495)
"A picture book that debunks the myths of sexual stereotyping in an entertaining manner. Mike is the well-meaning owner of a cute dog. When he finds out she is a girl instead of a boy, he begins to change the way he raises her. In the end, Mike learns his lesson in this sweet book." - Adrienne Harper, Brystone Children's Books, Ft. Worth, TX
When
the Moon Is Full: A Lunar Year
by Pollack,
Penny, illustrated by Mary
Azarian
(Ages 4 - 8, Little, Brown, $15.95, 0316713171) "A poetic trip through
the months of the year on moonlit nights. Azarian's woodcuts vividly portray
the activities taking place under the full-mooned skies." - Marjorie
Bowman, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Memphis, TN
And
one for slightly older kids!
 Shy
Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek, The
by Lampman,
Evelyn Sibley
(Ages 8 - 12, Purple House Press, $17.95, 1930900090) "I loved this book
as a child. Out of print for many years, it's now back! It's the story of two
children who are befriended by the last living dinosaur while helping a paleontologist
look for fossils. Lots of dinosaur lore in a lighthearted adventure."
- Donna Cressman, Maxwell Books, DeSoto, TX
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WHY 76?
1776 ~
INDEPENDENCE ~
INDEPENDENTS
Every two months, hundred of independent booksellers
passionately nominate thier favorite new books from a great array of publishers.
From these, 76 eclectic and diverse books are chosen.
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 Chameleon
Wore Chartreuse, The: A Chet Gecko Mystery
by Hale,
Bruce
(Ages 9 - 12, Harcourt, $4.95, 0152024859) "Meet Chet Gecko, 4th grader
at Emerson Hicky Elementary. When Billy Chameleon disappears from school one
day, Chet must battle a Gila monster and escape certain death by chlorination
before he uncovers Billy's trail!" - Libby Alison Richmond, Inklings
Bookshop, Yakima, WA
Also: The
Mystery of Mr. Nice
Farewell,
My Lunchbag
The
Chameleon Wore Chartreuse & The Mystery of Mr. Nice on audiotape
 Freddy
the Detective
by Brooks,
Walter R., illustrated by Kurt
Wiese
(Ages 9 - 12, Puffin (Penguin Putnam, $6.99, 0141312343) "The Library Journal
says: 'Freddy is simply one of the greatest characters in children's literature!'
And I agree. Freddy is a multi-talented pig: detective, editor, magician and
more. He is sassy and sagacious, a lover of language and a true wit, like his
creator Walter Brooks, who served on the editorial board of The New Yorker in
the 1930s." - Bobby Tichenor, Annie Bloom's, Portland, OR
Also: Freddy
Goes to Florida
Freddy
& the Ignormus
 Freddy
the Pilot
Freddy
Goes to the North Pole
Freddy
the Politician
Freddy
& the Bean Home News
Freddy
& Mr. Camphor
Freddy
& the Space Ship
Freddy
& the Flying Saucer Plans
Freddy
& the Dragon
 Betsy-Tacy
by Lovelace,
Maud Hart
(Ages 9 - 12, HarperTrophy, $6.99, 0064400964) "The Betsy-Tacy series remains
one of my best childhood memories. My mom got me hooked on them and I devoured
each one from Betsy at age 5 through her wedding. Timeless in their tales about
friendship, it is a joy to see this series back in print for more kids to inhale."
- Sheri Kraft, Alibi Books, Glenview, IL
Also: Betsy
and Tacy Go Downtown
Betsy
& Tacy Go Over the Big Hill
Betsy-Tacy
and Tib
 Betsy
and the Great World
Betsy
Was a Junior
Betsy
in Spite of Herself
Heaven
to Betsy
Betsy
and Joe
Betsy's
Wedding
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Author
Quote of the Month
"It's
been marvelous to travel around and see that independent bookstores are
this large underground railroad of culture and taste."
-- Lemony Snicket
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 Color
of My Words, The
by Joseph,
Lynn
(Ages 8 - 12, HarperCollins, $14.95, 0060282320) "12-year-old Ana watches
the world from up in a tree, composing poems and stories in her head. Her mother
tries to protect her from learning so young the political power words can have
in a country where speaking out can be very dangerous. Set in the Dominican
Republic, this book is dappled with poetry, pain, and promise." - Laura
Hansen, Bookin' It, Little Falls, MN
 Dancing
in Cadillac Light
by Holt,
Kimberly Willis
(Ages 8 - 12, Putnam, $15.99, 0399234020) "Holt's description and characters
take you right into the 60's South. You can taste the dust and feel the pain
her characters go through as they struggle to put the pieces back together after
Grandpa passes away. Jaynell and Racine dream of much more for themselves, but
can they escape the legacy their Grandpa has left them?" - Sarah Parker,
Scott's Bookstore, Mt. Vernon, WA
 Gawgon
and the Boy, The
by Alexander, Lloyd
(Ages 8 - 12, Dutton, $17.99, 0525466770)
"I had a beloved aunt who traveled to exotic places and had a sharp mind. She had much in common with Alexander's own Aunt Annie, the model for the Gawgon in his new novel. Using autobiographical material, Alexander is sharing his aunt's brilliance, humor and spirit with all of us, while creating a fine tribute to her memory." - Ellen Davis, Dragonwings Bookstore, Waupaca, WI
How Tia Lola Came To Stay
by Alvarez, Julia
(Ages 8 - 12, Knopf, $15.95, 0375802150)
"Alvarez's newest book is a wonderful story lovingly told. Truths are understood in English and Dominican Spanish while love is universal. I wish there were more Tia Lolas in the world, but for now I am comforted and encouraged by the one Julia Alvarez sent to our bookstore." - Margaret Poppe, Books & Books, Coral Gables, FL
 Sailor
Returns, A
by Taylor, Theodore
(Ages 8 - 12, Blue Sky Press (Scholastic), $16.95, 0439248795)
"The characters are thoroughly believable and there is somebody that everyone can relate to. Great lesson of tolerance for all ages, and terrific for reading groups or for reading with your child. A real winner!" - Dan Smith, Cornerbooks, Canal Winchester, OH
School
Story
by Clements,
Andrew, illustrated by Brian
Selznick
 (Ages
8 - 12, Simon & Schuster, $16.95, 0689825943) "When Natalie writes a story
and shows it to her best friend Zoe, she's sure it would make a good book. Zoe
cooks up a scheme to get the book published for real. Zoe has a plan involving
alias names, an office rental, and getting an agent!" - Dominique Hutches,
Giant Steps, Fremont CA
Shipwrecked: The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy
by Blumberg, Rhoda
(Ages 8 - 12, HarperCollins, $16.95, 0688174841)
"We follow the life of a 14-year-old castaway who becomes the first Japanese person to enter the U.S. and later becomes an honored samurai. The gripping text sheds light on a variety of historical topics; this is inspiring, fast-paced adventure." - Jane Baldus, Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, IL
 Transmogrification
of Roscoe Wizzle, The
by Elliot,
David, illustrated by Vladimir
Rudinsky
(Ages 8 - 12, Candlewick, $12.99, 0763611735) "A cross between Roald Dahl
and Franz Kafka, this is a FUN book about changing, but it's also reassuring
to children that everything really will turn out OK. It is just the kind of
wacky book kids of all ages will gobble up and laugh over for weeks."
- Katharine Nevins, Main Street Book Ends, Warner, NH
Two Princesses of Bamarre, The
by Levine, Gail Carson
(Ages 8 - 12, HarperCollins, $15.95, 0060293152)
"The kingdom inhabited by humans, dragons, specters, fairies, ogres, and sorcerers must be saved from the Gray Death, and only the bravest will survive and save the kingdom. An exciting adventure for any fantasy lover." - Kathy Taber, Kids Ink Children's Bookstores, Indianapolis, IN
 What
Every Girl (Except Me) Knows
by Baskin, Nora Raleigh
(Ages 8 - 12, Little, Brown, $16.95, 0316070211) "Baskin has tackled a tough
topic with enough wit to make it uplifting. In this first novel, Gabby Weiss is
trying to grow up as best she can without a mother. I would recommend this book
to all 11 and 12-year-old girls." - Susan Avery, Ariel Booksellers, New
Paltz, NY
Wolves
of Willoughby Chase, The
by Aiken,
Joan
(Ages
8 - 12, Yearling, $4.99, 0440496039) "When I was 9, I discovered the storytellin g
of Joan Aiken. Now, nearly 40 years later, another generation can experience
the melodramatic, tongue-in-cheek adventures of cousins Bonnie and Sylvia as
they foil the dastardly plot of their evil governess." - Tula Patterson,
The Children's Corner Bookshop, Spokane, WA
- Watch out for our interview with the wonderful Ms. Aiken, coming up soon
on BookSense.com
 How
the Heather Looks: A Joyous Journey to the British Sources of Children's Books
by Bodger,
Joan
(For Parents and Children, McClelland & Stewart (Random House), $23.95, 0771011180)
"This book is a MUST for lovers of children's literature! In the 50's,
Ms. Bodger and her family tracked down the actual places mentioned in many of
the classic children's stories. A wonderful armchair travel book."
- Jennifer Anglin, Enchanted Forest, Dallas, TX
 Bad
Boy
by Myers,
Walter Dean
(Teen, HarperCollins, $15.95, 0060295236) "An autobiography that reads
like a novel, this gives us a picture of a great author who, it turns out, was
not a great kid. Not your typical rags-to-riches story." - Amy Baum,
Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, MN
Monster
by Myers,
Walter Dean
(Teen,
HarperCollins, $6.95, 0064407314) "Was Steve the lookout for a robbery
 or
at the wrong place at the wrong time? As the trial unfolds, you are never sure
what to think. Wow! Loved it !!" - Liz Shaffer, Junior Editions, Columbia,
MD
 Don't
Think Twice
by Pennebaker, Ruth
(Teen, Holt, $6.95, 0805067299)
"Anne is 17 and pregnant. Her moving and often hilarious experiences in a home for unwed mothers are related in a sarcastic tone that rings true and reveals the hypocrisies of our society." - Sue Carita, Toadstool Books, Milford, NH
Heaven
Eyes
by Almond,
David
 (Teen,
Delacorte, $15.95, 0385327706) "Three orphans are on an adventure that
turns out to be stranger than fiction. Who is this ethereal creature called
Heaven Eyes, and how has she been able to exist in her bizarre world that is
both wonderful and eerie at the same time. Friendship and survival bond Erin,
Jan, Mouse, and Heaven Eyes together in an unforgettable tale." - Carolyn
Harrington, Great Horned Owl Bookstore, Louisville, CO
Many Stones
by Coman, Carolyn
(Teen, Front Street (PGW), $15.95, 1886910553)
"Coman is a writer with an unerring feel for the conflict in adolescent emotions. Berry is a teenager who has lost her older sister in a brutal murder in South Africa and must accompany her father to a memorial service while still angry abut her parents' recent divorce. Readers will understand her conflicting emotions and be drawn into this well-told story." - Betsey Detwiler, Buttonwood Books, Hingham, MA
Wizard's Dilemma, The
by Duane, Diane
(Teen, Magic Carpet Books (Harcourt), $17.00, 0152025510)
"This is a very intense book, the latest in the Young Wizards series. Nita's latest assignment as a wizard is the hardest yet, and one for which there may be no possible solution. Read on; the author has outdone herself yet again." - Katherine Bryk, Learned Owl, Hudson, OH
Broken Hearts ... Healing: Young Poets Speak Out On Divorce
by Worthen,
Tom, editor
(Teen, Poet Tree, $14.95, 1588761517) "Wonderful poetry written by children
to show their real feelings on the subject of divorce. It is great for children
to help them deal with divorce and for adults to help them understand how their
children may be feeling." - Sam Canaday, Brace Books & More, Ponca City,
OK
 Places
I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers
by Judy
Blume, editor
(Teen, Aladdin, $10.00, 0689842589) "A superb collection by some of the
best YA authors writing today. A bonus is a short essay by each author on the
topic of censorship." - Judy Park, Mostly Books, Gig Harbor, WA
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