Best of Birmingham Public Library's
Season’s Readings 2008 - Children
and Teen
Children's Books
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
by Carmen Agra Deedy
Reviewer: June Lacanski
“Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha was a beautiful cockroach.” Thus begins this folktale, with pictures as spunky and charming as the words telling the story. Martina is 21 days old and ready to give her leg in marriage. As the suitors come, Martina uses a trick her abuela - grandmother - has taught her, a trick that makes the process easy. In the end, though, Martina finds that “the coffee is on the other foot.” This Cuban tale uses some Spanish words and phrases, subtly explaining the meanings as it progresses. For example: “...Papa sent el perico, the parrot, to spread the word.” All ages, youngsters to adults will enjoy this retelling by a favorite storyteller.
by Carmen Agra Deedy
Reviewer: June Lacanski
“Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha was a beautiful cockroach.” Thus begins this folktale, with pictures as spunky and charming as the words telling the story. Martina is 21 days old and ready to give her leg in marriage. As the suitors come, Martina uses a trick her abuela - grandmother - has taught her, a trick that makes the process easy. In the end, though, Martina finds that “the coffee is on the other foot.” This Cuban tale uses some Spanish words and phrases, subtly explaining the meanings as it progresses. For example: “...Papa sent el perico, the parrot, to spread the word.” All ages, youngsters to adults will enjoy this retelling by a favorite storyteller.
Jazzy Miz Mozetta
by Brenda C. Roberts
Reviewer: Felita Yarbrough
One evening, sweet Miz Mozetta decides to doll herself up for a stroll in the moonlight. She puts on Pretty Plum powder, Tango Mango lipstick, her firecracker-red dress and favorite blue shoes and heads outside to enjoy the moonlight. Once outside, she runs into three of her friends, while across the street, some kids dance and jive to their beat box. Miz Mozetta asks the kids if she can join in; but their skepticism puts her off. So she returns to her apartment, where she decides to turn up the radio and dream about the old days at the Blue Pearl Ballroom. Fortunately for us, the tale doesn’t end here. Her friends, lured by Miz Mozetta’s spunk and the music from the band, put on their finest swing clothes and zoot suits and start some serious jitterbugging. Now it’s the kids asking if THEY can join in on the fun, and by the end of the book everyone is cutting a rug in Miz Mozetta’s snazzy living room floor.
by Brenda C. Roberts
Reviewer: Felita Yarbrough
One evening, sweet Miz Mozetta decides to doll herself up for a stroll in the moonlight. She puts on Pretty Plum powder, Tango Mango lipstick, her firecracker-red dress and favorite blue shoes and heads outside to enjoy the moonlight. Once outside, she runs into three of her friends, while across the street, some kids dance and jive to their beat box. Miz Mozetta asks the kids if she can join in; but their skepticism puts her off. So she returns to her apartment, where she decides to turn up the radio and dream about the old days at the Blue Pearl Ballroom. Fortunately for us, the tale doesn’t end here. Her friends, lured by Miz Mozetta’s spunk and the music from the band, put on their finest swing clothes and zoot suits and start some serious jitterbugging. Now it’s the kids asking if THEY can join in on the fun, and by the end of the book everyone is cutting a rug in Miz Mozetta’s snazzy living room floor.
When the Library Lights Go Out
by Megan McDonald
Reviewer: June Lacanski
When librarians say good-night and turn off the lights, they think everything is still and quiet for the evening. But is it? Rabbit peeks out of his puppet box first; then he wakes up lion. They look for their friend hermit crab, who is enjoying the stars. He tells his friends that each star has a name, which is true – in the library. Also within the library, the friends find a park, a lake and a bridge. Children will be amused to see what these objects really are. Perhaps they will wonder, too, what really happens when the library lights go out.
by Megan McDonald
Reviewer: June Lacanski
When librarians say good-night and turn off the lights, they think everything is still and quiet for the evening. But is it? Rabbit peeks out of his puppet box first; then he wakes up lion. They look for their friend hermit crab, who is enjoying the stars. He tells his friends that each star has a name, which is true – in the library. Also within the library, the friends find a park, a lake and a bridge. Children will be amused to see what these objects really are. Perhaps they will wonder, too, what really happens when the library lights go out.
Teen Books
Heir Apparent
by Vivian Vande Velde
Reviewer: Rochelle Sides-Renda
Giannine Bellisario’s problems begin when she goes to a virtual gaming arcade for her 14th birthday. First she has to trick a futuristic bus into letting her off a block past the arcade. Then she has to make a dash to get through the picket line to get inside. Once there she chooses Heir Apparent, a game with wizards and dragons that can be played in thirty minutes if all the right choices are made. Every time she dies in the game she is sent back to try again. While she is hooked up to the game the picketers cause a power surge that ends the arcade manager’s ability to bring her out of the game. The only way the game will end is if Giannine wins the game. If she doesn’t win before her time runs out her brain will be permanently damaged. No one can help her and her chances are running out.
by Vivian Vande Velde
Reviewer: Rochelle Sides-Renda
Giannine Bellisario’s problems begin when she goes to a virtual gaming arcade for her 14th birthday. First she has to trick a futuristic bus into letting her off a block past the arcade. Then she has to make a dash to get through the picket line to get inside. Once there she chooses Heir Apparent, a game with wizards and dragons that can be played in thirty minutes if all the right choices are made. Every time she dies in the game she is sent back to try again. While she is hooked up to the game the picketers cause a power surge that ends the arcade manager’s ability to bring her out of the game. The only way the game will end is if Giannine wins the game. If she doesn’t win before her time runs out her brain will be permanently damaged. No one can help her and her chances are running out.
I Hadn't Meant To Tell You This
by Jacqueline Woodson
Reviewer: Barbara Sirmans
Looking past outward differences and connecting from heart-to-heart is the central theme of this wonderful story. Marie, a black upper middle-class teenager, and Lena, a poor, white underprivileged youth from the other side of town, manage to become friends even though that was not their intention. Living with absentee mothers for different reasons and sharing each others’ most private secrets are two reasons they have bonded. As you read the pages, you will learn, as they do, that true friendship surpasses physical attributes and you will discover what horrifying secret they share.
by Jacqueline Woodson
Reviewer: Barbara Sirmans
Looking past outward differences and connecting from heart-to-heart is the central theme of this wonderful story. Marie, a black upper middle-class teenager, and Lena, a poor, white underprivileged youth from the other side of town, manage to become friends even though that was not their intention. Living with absentee mothers for different reasons and sharing each others’ most private secrets are two reasons they have bonded. As you read the pages, you will learn, as they do, that true friendship surpasses physical attributes and you will discover what horrifying secret they share.