Week of April 15, 2012: LESSONS FROM THE HORN BOOK GUIDE
Friday, April 20, 2012: What Makes for Success in the Eyes of The Horn Book Reviewers?
Today we’re celebrating the books that received ratings of 1 or 2 in The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2012 issue. As a reminder:
THE RATING
|
NUMBER OF BOOKS
|
PERCENT OF TOTAL
|
1
Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration
|
4
|
1%
|
2
Superior, well above average
|
47
|
13%
|
I’ll list the books rated 1 and 2 and comments from the reviewers about the books rated one, indicating what makde the text of those books outstanding. Enjoy!
THE ONES
Bone Dog
Written and Illustrated by Eric Rohmann
Roaring Brook
NOTES: Rohmann’s relief prints with forceful black lines and high contrast, accentuate the weight of the story’s emotion—Gus’s grief after Ella dies as well as the poignancy of boy and dog’s fleeting moonlit reunion.
Haunted Hamburger and Other Ghostly Stories, The
Written by David LaRochelle
Illustrated by Paul Meisel
Dutton
NOTES: The book’s humor is freewheeling and perfectly calibrated for its audience; it should evoke sniggers and belly laughs.
Over and Under the Snow
By Kate Messner
Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
NOTES: Spare, poetic words
Money We’ll Save, The
Written and Illustrated by Brock Cole
Farrar/Ferguson
NOTES: Entertaining story; a brilliant solution satisfies everyone
Subway Story
Written and Illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach
Knopf
Notes: Sarcone-Roach allows her theme of reuse and recycling to emerge naturally from a fine tale.
THE TWOS
An Annoying ABC
By Barbara Bottner
Illustrated by Michael Emberley
Knopf
Anton Can Do Magic
Written and Illustrated by Ole Konnecke
Gecko
Bad Kitty Christmas, A
Written and Illustrated by Nick Bruel
Roaring Brook
Bailey
Written and Illustrated by Harry Bliss
Scholastic
Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend
By Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Bettye Ramsey
Illustrated by John Holyfield
Candlewick
Blue Chicken
Written and Illustrated by Deborah Freedman
Viking
Bumble-Ardy
Written and Illustrated by Maurice Sendak
HarperCollins
Carpenter’s Gift, The
By David Rubel
Illustrated by Jim LaMarche
Random
Chanukah Lights
By Michael J. Rosen
Illustrated by Robert Sabuda
Candlewick
Christmas Coat: Memories of My Sioux Childhood, The
By Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Illustrated by Ellen Beier
Holiday
Christmas Eve at the Mellops’
The Mellops Go Diving for Treasure
The Mellops Strike Oil
Written and Illustrated by Tomi Ungerer
Reissue (1958/Harper)
Christmas Tree for Pyn, A
Written and Illustrated by Olivier Dunrea
Philomel
Crouching Tiger
By Ying Chang Compestine
Illustrated by Yan Nascimbene
Candlewick
Detective Blue
By Steve Metzger
Illustrated by Todd Arnold
Scholastic/Orchard
Elmer’s Christmas
Written and Illustrated by David McKee
Anderson
Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five
Written and Illustrated by Valorie Fisher
Random/Schwartz & Wade
George Flies South
Written and Illustrated by Simon James
Candlewick
Gingerbread Man Loose in the School, The
By Laura Murray
Illustrated by Mike Lowery
Putnam
Grandpa Green
Written and Illustrated by Lane Smith
Roaring Brook
Home for Christmas
Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett
Putnam
Hornbooks and Inkwells
By Verla Kay
Illustrated by S. D. Schindler
Putnam
How Dalia Put a Big Yellow Comforter Inside a Tiny Blue Box: And Other Wonders of Tzedakah
By Linda Heller
Illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen
Tricycle
I Want My Hat Back
Written and Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Candlewick
Jingle Bells: How the Holiday Classic Came to Be
Written by John Harris
Illustrated by Adam Gustavson
Peachtree
Let’s Go See Papa
By Lawrence Schimel
Translated by Elisa Amanda
Illustrated by Alba Marina Rivera
Groundwood
Lighthouse Christmas
Written by Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter
Dial
Littlest Evergreen, The
Written and Illustrated by Henry Cole
HarperCollins
Melvin and the Boy
Written and Illustrated by Lauren Castillo
Holt
My Rhinoceros
Written and Illustrated by Jon Agee
Scholastic
Never Forgotten
By Patricia C. McKissack
Illustrated by Leo Dillon and Diane Dillon
Random/Schwartz & Wade
Neville
By Norton Juster
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Random/Schwartz & Wade
No Dogs Allowed
By Linda Ashman
Illustrated by Kristin Sorra
Sterling
One Little Chicken
By Elka Weber
Illustrated by Elisa Kleven
Tricycle
People
By Blexbolex
Translated by Claudia Bedrick
Enchanted Lion
Perfect Christmas, The
By Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by JoAnn Adinolfi
Holt/Octaviano
Princess of Borscht, The
By Leda Schubert
Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
Roaring River
Samantha on a Roll
By Linda Ashman
Illustrated by Christine Daventer
Farrar/Ferguson
Same, Same but Different
Written and Illustrated by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Holt/Ottaviano
Scrawny Cat
By Phyllis Root
Illustrated by Alison Friend
Candlewick
Sniffles for Bear, The
By Bonny Becker
Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
Candlewick
Stars
By Mary Lyn Ray
Illustrated by Marla Frazee
Simon/Beach Lane
Strega Nona’s Gift
Written and Illustrated by Tomi dePaola
Penguin
Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad Robot
By Margaret McNamara
Illustrated by Mark Fearing
Random/Schwartz & Wade
Too Many Frogs
Written by Ann Hassett
Illustrated by John Hassett
Houghton
Where’s My T-R-U-C-K?
By Karen Beaumont
Illustrated by David Catrow
Dial
Which Side Are You On? The Story of a Song
By George Ella Lyon
Illustrated by Christopher Cardinale
Cinco
It’s Your Turn!
1. Time to go check out some new books, don’t you think? That’s what I plan to do!