Newbery Award Book Review: The One and Only Ivan

Title:  The One and Only Ivan
Author:  Katherine Applegate
Publisher:  HarperCollins Children's Books
Ages:  8-12



The one and only Ivan is a gifted artist and silverback gorilla who has spent most of his life living with his human owner, Mack.  He is the star attraction at the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade off of I-95.  He lives with an older elephant, Stella, and a stray dog, Bob, who rents out napping space on Ivan's great belly.  Their world changes dramatically when a new baby elephant, Ruby, joins the group,  and tragedy strikes.  Ivan makes a promise to Stella that he must keep, and hatches a plan to execute it through his artwork and a little help from his artist friend, Julia.

This story is told through short entries from Ivan's perspective.  The occasional illustrations add a nice visual element to the already heavily descriptive story.  This Newbery Award winning book will appeal to children ages 8 and up, and animal lovers of all ages.

Picture Book Review: Dragons Love Tacos

Title:  Dragons Love Tacos
Author:  Adam Rubin
Illustrator:  Daniel Salmieri
Publisher:  Dial Books for Young Readers, New York, NY 2012

Dragons love tacos.  Any kind of tacos:  beef tacos, chicken tacos, gigantic tacos and tiny little baby tacos.  They also love parties:  costume parties, pool parties, parties with accordions, and parties with charades.  It should come as no surprise then, that a dragon's favorite thing is a taco party!  (Just be sure to hide the salsa!)

This hilarious tale will have children ages 4 to 8 roaring with laughter.  The repetitious pattern of the story will help beginning readers catch on to the text, and the cadence of the tale allow it to be a great read aloud.  Just be sure the audience is able to view the awesome illustrations.

Picture Book Review: Boy + Bot

Title:  Boy + Bot
Author:  Ame Dyckman
Illustrator:  Dan Yaccarino
Publisher:  Alfred A. Knopf, New York, NY 2012

The boy befriends a boxy and bright "bot" one day in the forest.  Before they can share a full day of fun and shenanigans, the robot's power switch gets bumped, and the boy doesn't know what to do!  He tries every remedy he can think of with no success.  The tale turns when the robot's power switch gets turned back on, while the boy is fast asleep and the robot takes a turn at trying to "fix" the boy.

This is an adorably silly tale that children will be drawn to, and the bright and eye-catching illustrations will further engage children in the story.  The story would appeal to children ages one to four and would make an excellent read aloud for storytellers with a perfected robot voice.

Children's Book Review: Chomp

Title:  Chomp
Author:  Carl Hiaasen
Publisher:  Knopf Books for Young Readers
Ages 10-14
290 pages

Wahoo Cray is the son of a Floridian animal wrangler with a chomped off thumb to prove it. When Wahoo's dad, Mickey, is contacted by the production crew for a popular nature thriller reality show, Expedition Survival! they travel to the Everglades with the cast and crew. It quickly becomes apparent that the show is heavily staged, and the star, Derek Badger, is a fraud. When Derek becomes truly lost in the Everglades the cast and crew, including Wahoo and Mickey must help to find them.

There is no shortage of wild and crazy adventures throughout this book, even if some of the adventures are mildly predictable. Derek Badger can't stay out of trouble and puts the entire cast and crew, including the Cray's, survival skills to the test. A great book for readers who love an adventurous tale, especially those with an affinity for nature and the wilderness. Best for readers ages 10-14.  

Picture Book Review: Delia's Dull Day

Title:  Delia's Dull Day
Author:  Andy Myer
Publisher:  Sleeping Bear Press, 2012
Ages 4 to 9

Delia spends the story lamenting about her super boring and ordinary day.  But readers are treated to the exciting adventures that occurred while Delia was oblivious to them:  elephants walking through the kitchen during breakfast time, a gargantuan gorilla in line at the school cafeteria, and an alien invasion in her living room during her viewing of Mars Invaders 3.

Children will delight in the very un-dull events that Delia is missing out on during her day and will chuckle at her woes.  This book is best for children aged 4 to 9.

Children's Book Review: The Humming Room

Title:  The Humming Room
Author:  Ellen Potter
Publisher:  Feiwel and Friends, 2012
Ages 9-14

Roo is not your average 12 year old girl. She has a narrow, bony face with a tight, dissatisfied mouth and dull green eyes, and is extremely small for her age. She often finds solace in tight, cramped hiding places. When her father dies, she is sent to live with her uncle who resides in an old children's hospital on a private island. After her initial misgivings about her new residence, she finds herself becoming even more in tune with nature through the island and its enchantment. When she stumbles on a secret garden hidden within the facility, she sets out to bring it back to life. A loner by nature, Roo surprises herself by finding and enjoying companionship in Jack and her cousin Phillip. This children's novel will appeal to kids aged 9-14. While heavily inspired by The Secret Garden, this story will give the reader an additional layer of whimsy and adventure. Those familiar with the story will see many similarities, but also some new twists in the tale.

Picture Book Review: The Lonely Book

Title:  The Lonely Book
Author:  Kate Bernheimer
Illustrator:  Chris Sheban
Publisher:  Schwartz & Wade Books, 2012
Ages 4 to 8

The green book with a picture of a girl in the forest under a toadstool was beloved by many.  Boys and girls chose the book to take home from the library, using its yellow ribbon bookmark to save their place in the adventure.  As time went on, the book was not enjoyed as frequently and its beautiful cover that had drawn so many children in was now faded and torn.  Eventually the book was selected by Alice and read again and again, and the book no longer felt lonely.  But events separated Alice from her book and it began a lonely adventure of its own.  The lonely book doesn't stay lonely forever, when a twist of fate reunites Alice with her beloved book much later in life.

A gorgeously illustrated book that bookworms both young and old will enjoy.  This book is best for ages four to eight.