Children’s Book Reviews
by Michele Reutty, MLS
Director, Oakland Public Library
Summertime and the reading is easy! No book reports, no assignments, just reading for the sheer joy of it!
Most Libraries have Summer Reading Programs for children and the theme this year is Be Creative @ Your Library. Here follows a list of books to inspire your child’s creativity…
A Lithgow Palooza!
101 Ways to Entertain and Inspire Your Kids
By John Lithgow
Maybe you know him as the alien, Dick Solomon, from TV’s “Third Rock from the Sun,” but John Lithgow’s self-proclaimed “greatest role in life” is as father to his children.
The “Paloozas” are activities initiated by adults and quickly taken over by children (and oft-times educational!). Your child can make a labyrinth to walk, publish a newspaper, learn to be a virtuoso on air guitar, dance the tango, draw a self-portrait and create balloon swords. Many are low or no cost activities and all are wonderful springboards for other creative inventions. This is a sure cure for the summer doldrums!
There’s a Chef in My Soup!
By Emeril Lagasse
Chef written, but kid tested, Emeril of TV fame has written this cookbook for his many fans who just happen to be children. He himself got started watching his mother Hilda cook, and seeing friends and family drawn to their home because of it.
Cartoon-like illustrations teach techniques such as zesting a lemon or stuffing a pita. Clear instructions guarantee success.
My First Ballet Book
By Kate Castle
This book is for any child, male or female, who would like to dance on stage one day or who just loves the ballet. It explains the poses and techniques, the different styles, the attire and costumes, the stories, and spotlights the great dancers, choreographers and composers.
I have always loved the books that come from the Dorling-Kindersly press, known as DK Publishing. The quality of the paper, the clarity and colors of the illustrations and the pertinent narratives…whether adult or children’s books, they are just treasures waiting to be discovered. (Note to Adults: check out their travel books!)
Writing for Kids
By Carol Lea Benjamin
Last Saturday I had a proud father bring his daughter to my office to show me the two books she had written. She was barely able to see over my desk, yet she had written and illustrated two “books” consisting of eight pages of taped together white paper with wonderful stories and pictures. She had even included her bio on the last pages!
If your child has talent in this area too, a good book for getting them started along the road to New York Time Bestseller-dom is “Writing for Kids.” This book doesn’t define protagonist and antagonist and does not go into genre. Rather, it is a very practical book to get your child up and writing immediately. It has just enough examples of poems and short stories and character sketches sprinkled throughout, written by fourth through sixth graders. Sentences that start off with “I hate it when…” or “Why do grownups always…” provide inspiration for a creative writing experience. The author even tells you how to fold paper to make a reasonable facsimile of a book.
This is a wonderful how-to book.
Kids Knit!
Simple Steps to Nifty Projects
By Sarah Bradberry
Knitting is so “In”, and this is just the book to start a kid off on the right foot.
The instructions for beginning to knit are clear and well illustrated. The projects such as headbands and scrunchies and doll blankets will make useful gifts. (There are also several DVDs in the Library on knitting and crocheting that provide step-by-step instruction.)
Knitting is a life-long hobby that can provide many peaceful hours of pleasure. And when passed on from a parent to a child, can provide a life-long bond.