Archive for April 24, 2017

Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3

Written by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan
Illustrated by Grace Zong

            Saying good-bye to a favorite teacher is a hard thing to do. Especially, is she is not coming back to the school at all next year.

            Each child has a special job in this story of packing up the classroom on the last day. While most of them see each other being busy, they are not able to see William drawing his pictures until almost the end of the story. But he becomes a hero when they realize his pictures help them remember all the great times they had during the year.

            Teachers and librarians can use this book as they prepare for the end of the school year and especially, when a teacher is retiring or just moving on to another career.

            The illustrations are great fun and very realistic in showing children at work with tongues sticking out and smiles on their faces. This will become a favorite.

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  • Title:  Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3
  • Author:  Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan
  • Illustrator:  Grace Zong
  • Publisher:  Peachtree, 2017
  • Reviewer: Elizabeth Swartz
  • Format:  Hardcover, 32 pages
  • ISBN:  978-1-56145-944-5
  • Genre: Picture Book
  • Grade level:  K to 3

Martina & Chrissie: The Greatest Rivalry in the History of Sports

Written by Phil Bildner
Illustrated by Brett Helquist

If you have any interest in sports, or if you have some fondness for the 1970s, or even if you like stories about strong women, you really need to read this book.

In 1971, a new female tennis player, Chris Evert, appeared on the scene, quietly winning a lot of matches. In 1973, Chrissie and Martina Navratilova played for the first time, with Chrissie dominating the match. They became good friends, however. Martina gradually built up her game until she became the dominant player. Over the next several years, Chrissie and Martina played each other eighty times in tournaments. Martina won forty three of the matches. They made each other better players and were always the best of friends in spite of coaches and others wanting them to be at each other’s throats.

The lively and realistic painted illustrations give the reader the feeling of being there. Kids can see the determination and effort required to play.

Their rivalry gives a lot of lessons about friendship and what a good rivalry can do for you. The reader can also learn about this period in history, when the iron curtain was still a consideration. 

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  • Title: Martina & Chrissie: The Greatest Rivalry in the History of Sports
  • Author: Phil Bildner
  • Illustrator: Brett Helquist
  • Published: Candlewick Press, 2017
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
  • Grade Level: 2 to 5
  • Genre: Picture book, History, Sports
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-7308-6
  • Extras: Martina and Chrissie though the Years (timeline) and Sources

The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry

Written by Danna Smith
Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline

            Falconry has enjoyed a long history of legends and stories alike. This stunningly beautiful tale is told in verse from the viewpoint of a young girl hunting with father and their hawk. The story is told sequentially during the day, throughout a hunt and concludes with putting the hawk to bed in its mew at day’s end.

            The spectacular acrylic gouache illustrations bring alive medieval castle life amid authentic panoramas of European countryside. All views of the hawk, as well as of its prey are so realistic as to make the reader think it is a photograph. Upon reading the detailed illustrator’s note it all makes sense as, Ibatoulline, was raised by a falconer father and totally understands this topic. The hawk appears to be gliding right across the cover of the book.

            On each page a nonfiction text box clearly explains details of falconry using the proper terms. All nonfiction text is presented in italics, which helps young readers distinguish it from the fictional tale. Teachers, librarians and parents will commend the publisher for this important design feature.

      Curriculum standards can be met in the areas of literature, geography, history, animal life and the arts well into middle school.  While the book is also a beautiful read aloud for kindergarten or grade one. Teachers of grade two or grade three will use it in teaching about falconry as an ancient hunting sport, as an introduction to the study of medieval times or as a science book about falcons.  It is a story children and adults will want to read again and again. It is highly recommended for all school and public libraries.

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  • Title:  The Hawk of the Castle: A Story of Medieval Falconry
  • Author:  Danna Smith
  • Illustrator:  Bagram Ibatoulline
  • Publisher:  Candlewick, 2017
  • Reviewer: Elizabeth Swartz
  • Format:  Hardcover, 40 pages
  • ISBN:  978-0-7636-7992-7
  • Genre: Picture Book/Nonfiction Connection
  • Grade level:  PreK to 3
  • Extras: Index, Related Readings List, Related Internet sites, detailed illustrator note.