Great body book about movement and the ABC's. The best part is how diverse the illustrations are, showing people of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities, and colors. The rhyming words and pictures inspire interaction and sharp eyes will notice the appropriate objects for each letter in the picture (there's a handy key in the back pages). I'm pretty sure most bodies can't contort into the shapes illustrated, but how fun to try!
A wonderful collection for children from one of my favorite poets!
A little bit spooky, a little bit mysterious, Sid Fleischman's chapter book is short but full of atmosphere. When an orphaned boy must visit his sinister uncle, he steps into a corrupt plot affecting the townsfolk. He has the opportunity to save the day and is aided by a mysterious magician. I liked that the "magic" was a bit ambiguous and that there was a fine happy ending.
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Something a little ghoulish, something a little silly, something a little scary just for Halloween. Included is a wonderful introduction about Jim Flora, a popular graphic artist with a unique style. He illustrated many album and magazine covers. Bold, whimsical, outlandish and often bizarre, I think his artwork is incredible!
J. Brian Pinkney books are always in abundance at the thrift store, they are so popular. I liked this one because of the story of a brave boy who spends the night in a haunted house and comes out the richer for it. Robert D. San Souci gives a good explanation at the end about the origin of folktales and how they change and blend as they travel through countries, and cultures and ages. The Southern setting seemed just right for this one.
