Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems

by Michael Strickland

Marvelous Math by Lee Bennett Hopkins is a playful look at the sometimes surprising ways math is part of our daily’s life. The poems cover a vast range of topics from multiplication, division, and fractions to time, counting and measurement, but all relate math to our everyday world. The book is illustrated in full color by Karen Barbour.

“Hopkins pulls together poems on mathematics, providing insights from writers such as Karla Kuskin, Janet S. Wong, and Lillian M. Fisher,” according to School Library Journal. 

Several selections share the predictable theme of the significance of math and numbers. Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s title poem, for example, asks questions such as, “How fast does a New York taxi go?” and “How slow do feathers fall?” and suggests how to find the answers: “Mathematics knows it all!” Some take a unique point of view, as in Betsy Franco’s “Math Makes Me Feel Safe”: “Knowing that my brother will always be/three years younger than I am,/and every day of the year will have/twenty-four hours.” Rhymed and open verse styles are represented, as are a variety of tones. David McCord’s “Who Hasn’t Played Gazintas?” is a playful presentation of spoken language. Barbour’s lively illustrations dance and play around the poems. Her boldly outlined watercolor figures, often wearing ill-fitting hats, fill the pages with childlike whimsy. Children will enjoy studying the oddly colored animals, numbers, and stylized, arched-browed people. A delightful collection.

An amazon reviewer added that the book is  “a wonderful way to connect mathematics to communication arts. This book of math poetry shows children how math is readily used in one’s daily life. The colorful illustrations help keep the children intersted. It has given my students the enthusiasm for trying to write some poems about math also. This is great for home and also as a teaching tool.”

The EAI Education site said:

Hopkins pulls together poems on mathematics, providing insights from writers such as Karla Kuskin, Janet S. Wong, and Lillian M. Fisher. Several selections share the predictable theme of the significance of math and numbers. Rebecca Kai Dotlich’s title poem, for example, asks questions such as, “How fast does a New York taxi go?” and “How slow do feathers fall?” and suggests how to find the answers: “Mathematics knows it all!” Some take a unique point of view, as in Betsy Franco’s “Math Makes Me Feel Safe”: “Knowing that my brother will always be/three years younger than I am, / and every day of the year will have / twenty-four hours.” Rhymed and open verse styles are represented, as are a variety of tones. David McCord’s “Who Hasn’t Played Gazintas?” is a playful presentation of spoken language. Barbour’s lively illustrations dance and play around the poems. Her boldly outlined watercolor figures, often wearing ill-fitting hats, fill the pages with childlike whimsy. Children will enjoy studying the oddly colored animals, numbers, and stylized, arched-browed people. A delightful collection.

LEE BENNETT HOPKINS is a distinguished poet, writer, and anthologist whose poetry collections include the highly acclaimed Hand in Hand: An American History Through Poetry, illustrated by Peter Fiore, and My America: A Poetry Atlas of the United States, and America at War, both illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. Mr. Hopkins’s numerous awards include the University of Southern Mississippi Medallion for “lasting contributions to children’s literature” and both the Christopher Award and a Golden Kite Honor for his verse novel Been to Yesterdays: Poems of a Life. He lives in Cape Coral, Florida.

A Bad Case Of Stripes: An inspiring Children’s Book with a Positive Message

“With technology developing at a record pace and kids mastering iPads before they’re even out of diapers, it’s more important than ever to instill the love of reading in our children,” writes Julie Handler, co-founder of Positively Positive:

Although it’s never too late, the importance of getting kids to develop a love for reading early on often correlates with a love for learning, a passion for lifelong reading, and so many other positive traits that ultimately lead to the empowerment needed for success.

In our home we have acquired quite the collection of literary gems — in fact, we have more books than toys. I’ve happened upon wonderful books in all kinds of random places, so I’m always on the lookout. Of course, the library is always a great option, which we frequent at least every other week — a ritual which we started before the girls could even walk. Another one of my favorite places to find amazing books is museum bookshops. You would be surprised at the treasures you may come across there.

My favorite book from Handler’s list of 50 Inspiring Children’s Books with a Positive Message, is  A Bad Case Of Stripes, written and illustrated by David Shannon.

Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don”t like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she”s so worried that she”s about to break out in… a bad case of stripes!

“On this … book’s striking dust jacket, a miserable Betty-Boop-like girl, completely covered with bright bands of color, lies in bed with a thermometer dangling from her mouth,” wrote one reviewer.  “The rainbow-hued victim is Camilla Cream, sent home from school after some startling transformations: ‘when her class said the Pledge of Allegiance, she turned red, white, and blue, and she broke out in stars!’ Scientists and healers cannot help her, for after visits from “an old medicine man, a guru, and even a veterinarian… she sprouted roots and berries and crystals and feathers and a long furry tail.” The paintings are technically superb … The doe-eyed girl changes her stripes at anyone’s command, and only nonconformity can save her. When she finally admits her unspeakable secret … she loves lima beans … she is cured. Shannon (How Georgie Radbourn Saved Baseball) juggles dark humor and an anti-peer-pressure message. As her condition worsens, Camilla becomes monstrous, ultimately merging with the walls of her room. The hallucinatory images are eye-popping.”

School Library Journal called it:

A highly original moral tale acquires mythic proportions when Camilla Cream worries too much about what others think of her and tries desperately to please everyone. First stripes, then stars and stripes, and finally anything anyone suggests (including tree limbs, feathers, and a tail) appear vividly all over her body. The solution: lima beans, loved by Camilla, but disdained for fear they’ll promote unpopularity with her classmates. Shannon’s exaggerated, surreal, full-color illustrations take advantage of shadow, light, and shifting perspective to show the girl’s plight. Bordered pages barely contain the energy of the artwork; close-ups emphasize the remarkable characters that inhabit the tale. Sly humor lurks in the pictures, too. For example, in one double-page spread the Creams are besieged by the media including a crew from station WCKO. Despite probing by doctors and experts, it takes “an old woman who was just as plump and sweet as a strawberry” to help Camilla discover her true colors. Set in middle-class America, this very funny tale speaks to the challenge many kids face in choosing to act independently.

Shannon’s over-the-top art is sensational, an ingenious combination of the concrete and the fantastic that delivers more than enough punch to make up for the somewhat heavy hand behind the story, and as usual, his wonderfully stereotypic characters are unforgettable. The pictures are probably enough to attract young browsers (Camilla in brilliant stripped glory graces the jacket), and the book’s irony and wealth of detail may even interest readers in higher grades.

Booklist said:

Camilla, who loves lima beans but won’t eat them because it’s not cool, finds that deferring to others isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, her desire to please and be popular causes her some spectacular problems: she suddenly breaks out in stripes, then stars, then turns “purple polka-dotty” at the behest of a delighted classmate. Her weird mutations, which stymie doctors and send the media into a frenzy, become more and more extreme until she finally blends into the walls of her room–her lips the red-blanketed mattress on her bed, her eyes the paintings on the wall. Will she never be herself again? Shannon’s over-the-top art is sensational, an ingenious combination of the concrete and the fantastic that delivers more than enough punch to make up for the somewhat heavy hand behind the story, and as usual, his wonderfully stereotypic characters are unforgettable. The pictures are probably enough to attract young browsers (Camilla in brilliant stripped glory graces the jacket), and the book’s irony and wealth of detail may even interest readers in higher grades. Try this for leading into a discussion on being different.

David Shannon is the internationally acclaimed creator of more than thirty picture books, including NO, DAVID!, a Caldecott Honor Book and his second NEW YORK TIMES Best Illustrated Book of the Year. In addition to three more David picture books, Shannon’s bestsellers include TOO MANY TOYS; HOW GEORGIE RADBOURN SAVED BASEBALL (newly released in 2012); A BAD CASE OF STRIPES; DUCK ON A BIKE; ALICE THE FAIRY; and GOOD BOY, FERGUS! A native of Spokane, Washington, he is an avid fisherman. He and his family live in California.

BEAN DOG & NUGGET: Charise Mericle Harper Cooks Up Another Great Book Idea

This is an excerpt from an excellent blog entry by Charise Mericle Harper.

The other day I was at my son’s book fair, talking with his teacher. A few of my books were included in the event, and she picked one up and flipped through it. All of a sudden she asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” I’m pretty good at answering this question at school talks, but on the spot, I was speechless. I ended up smiling uncomfortably, shrugging my shoulders and saying, “I don’t know,” and then I quickly changed the subject.

On stage and in front of a group, I’m fine with the spotlight, but in a social situation, the last thing I’m comfortable talking about is me. Later that day, I started feeling guilty about how I’d responded. I should have made more of an effort to answer her, because her question was a good one. In fact, it was the exact same question I always want to ask other authors and illustrators. It’s why I’m always excited to meet them. I want to know: How do you do that thing that you do? Where do you get your ideas? And how do you get those ideas to swirl together perfectly so you can use them?

Read the full text of:  BEAN DOG & NUGGET: Charise Mericle Harper Cooks Up Another Great Book Idea
Using simple text and cartoon-style illustrations, Charise Mericle Harper introduces young readers to a new graphic novel series, Bean Dog and Nugget.These two engaging characters capture young kids’ actions, reactions, conversations, imagination, and humor with spot-on accuracy. Kids will want to follow Bean Dog and Nugget and their adventures in each and every book in the series.
In The Ball, Bean Dog and Nugget lose Bean Dog’s shiny new ball in a bush. They dream up elaborate and silly ways to get it back while they argue about who is actually going to go and get it. Enter Superdog and Ninja Nugget for a hilarious ending that kids will love and relate to.

CHARISE MERICLE HARPER has written and illustrated numerous children’s books, including Just Grace; Wedgieman: A Hero Is Born; Wedgieman to the Rescue; The Power of Cute; Gigi in the Big City; Milo’s Special Words; Good Night, Leo; Pink Me Up; When Randolph Turned Rotten; Fashion Kitty; and Fashion Kitty Versus the Fashion Queen. She lives in Mamaroneck, New York, with her husband and their two children. Charise loves creating art and stories, petting her cat, drinking coffee, and eating pie.

Group strives to wipe out Kenyan poverty

BOISE — Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope is a Boise-based organization that wants to eradicate poverty in Kenya by helping orphans, children of widows and those from abject poverty with high school tuition costs, the Idaho Press Tribune reports.

Today in Kenya, 56 percent of the people earn less than a dollar a day. Natural disasters, especially famines, are common in traditional farming areas where survival depends on rainfall and good weather. People in these areas become dependent on relief food, mostly from non-governmental organizations, the article states.

Idaho Press-Tribune: What is your organization’s goal and how do you accomplish it?

Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope: The problems of poverty and famine in Kenya are compounded by the effects of HIV/AIDS. Over one million children are orphans due to AIDS. This has led to the increased number of children having no one at all to care for them. When both parents die, their future is lost.

Elementary school education is free in Kenya, but children who pass the national eighth grade exams to join high school must pay tuition. Unfortunately, thousands of needy boys and girls cannot amass the necessary funds. Thus boys do easily turn to a life of crime, drugs or alcohol while girls are in danger of turning into prostitution or being forced to early marriage.

Providing handouts is a short-sighted approach. Educating the youth is a long-term solution that will create a nation of educated professional contributors.

CONTRIBUTE TO CARING HEARTS AND HANDS OF HOPE

To help, please mail a check to Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope Inc. (any amount helps), P.O. Box 7152, Boise, 83707, or donate online at www.caringheartsandhandsofhope.com. You can have Caring Hearts and Hands of Hope President Dr. Vincent Kituku come speak at your organization or school by calling 376-8724.

**********************************************************************************************************
Related Reading: Books for Kids about Kenya and by Kenyan Authors.
The list author says: “Books are a great way to introduce young children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. We’ve compiled a list of books about Kenya and by Kenyan authors for children of various ages and with varying interests. What better why to begin a journey than a trip through literature?”

One great sample from this list is Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain (Reading Rainbow Books). by Verna Aardema.

An amazon reviewer wrote:
I really love the book “Bringing The Rain to Kapiti Plain,” by Verna Aardema. I have enjoyed it so much that I am planning to give it as a gift to my sister who has two young children, ages 4 and 7. This is a simple story about a cattle herdsman and his wish for rain on the African plain. The narrative structure of the story is based on a sequence of events that builds suspense and interest in children until the end of the story. This is a memorable story; it is very simple to understand and has a powerful musical quality that, as a young adult, I enjoy reading aloud. The rhymes and rhythms are so strong that all young children will be wide eyed with suspense and interest until the very end of the story. I particularly enjoyed one line where the author rhymes “fat” and “Ki-pat”: “So the grass grew green/ And the cattle fat!/ And Ki-pat got a wife/ And a little Ki-pat-.” This story is suitable for young children because its tone is happy. It deals with the relationship of humans with water, plants and animals. … From this book … they will learn about the connection between humans and nature by enjoying the colored pictures. The pictures are so vibrant that it is easy to imagine the world of Ki-pat. As an adult, I enjoy this book because it describes the cycle of life in a very interesting way. Readers of all ages will see that human life is totally dependent upon nature, and the existence of human beings without nature is nearly impossible. Readers will also learn how the lives of humans and animals are dependent on rain; people and animals need each other and every part of nature for their perfect existence. I highly recommend Verna Aardema’s “Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain” to anyone who has young children and is looking for a book that illustrates the relationship between nature and human beings. The colorful, detailed pictures will keep the children interested while they are learning about the connection between nature and human beings.

AL and TEDDY, first picture book published by Dream Yard Press “destined to become a classic.”

This is the story of Al, who is also King Alejandro, and his kid brother Teddy. Who is four. Almost five. Every night Al flies to exotic places and meets fantastic beings, and every morning he’s back in his room in their little house. Because Al can draw and paint. And he promises Teddy that some day Teddy can come along. Some day. When Teddy is five. But then things change…

AL and TEDDY is the first picture book published by Dream Yard Press. It is the story of love and friendship between two brothers, and the power of art to transform children’s lives.
This book tells a great story “that you can show to your kids while you read to them, so they can also dream about the moon monster (who isn’t so monstrous, really) and have an example of how siblings (mostly) look out for each other (pretty much).” With small wheels under the cockpit and bursts of energy from jet propulsion, Al flies his blue rocket across the nighttime sky, searching for faraway places,” according to a write-up on Kidlitreviews.

Every parent remembers the moment when siblings first began bonding — the joy, the pain, the rivalry, the struggle.
Each morning by dawn, Al returns home to his younger brother Teddy, and draws pictures of where he went.  Teddy wants more; he wants to go with his big brother on these trips, but cannot.  He must be five-years-old and he is four.  Teddy is not happy, but waits the year out.  One year later, Teddy excitedly reminds Al it is time to fly, but Al has bad news.  Teddy must wait until he is six-years-old.  Teddy reacts furiously.

The words and spreads in Al and Teddy are so tenderly wrought they will bring tears to any parent or child’s eyes. This a compelling story of imagination and young brotherly love. It’s very sweet without ever being sappy or over the top.  The book also does a great job of celebrating little boys without being too stereotypical.  I’m impressed with how well it is executed.

Kidlitreviews. continues:

Al shares his nightly journeys with Teddy—who narrates the story—through his art.  Teddy’s adoration of his big brother is obvious.  Al enjoys sharing his stories and art with Teddy. Parents with toddlers will identify with Teddy’s mood changes and the love-hate feelings the child displays. The boys accept each other as they are and need no words to convey their contriteness or forgiveness.  There is a feeling of magic during Al’s travels and again as he shares them with Teddy.  Children of all ages will love the story of brotherly love, forgiveness, and imagination that flows from Al’s creativity to Teddy’s heart.

The author writes:

Hello. I’m Neil Waldman, writer and illustrator of more than fifty books for children. My books have won the Christopher Award, the National Jewish Book Award, the School Library Best Book Award, the American Library Association Notable Award, and many others.
“AL and TEDDY” is my newest picture book. Published by Dream Yard Press, a new not-for-profit publisher of children’s books. All proceeds from sales of “AL and TEDDY” will be used to support the young artists of the Fred Dolan Art Academy, a free Saturday art school designed to help Bronx youngsters go to art college. Founded in 2006, twenty-three students have graduated from the academy, all going on to college with scholarships. They’ve been accepted at Dartmouth, the Chicago Art Institute, USC, NYU, the Rhode Island School of Design, and the School of Visual Arts. But despite this unprecedented success, the academy’s funding has been slashed. We’re trying to get word out, that every time someone buys a copy of “AL and TEDDY,” we use the money to buy oil paints, watercolors, sketchpads, easels, and healthy lunches for our students. We’re hoping you’ll join us, and help support our kids.

An amazon reviewer said:

Every once in a long while, I open a new picture book that I know is destined to become a classic. Al and Teddy is such a book. The illustrations are remarkable . . . filled with excitement and wonderful color. The technique is reminiscent of Maurice Sendak – exquisite, masterful! . . . and beautifully designed. The story is compelling. It will draw young readers in from the opening page, and take them on a thrilling ride that culminates with a fresh and unexpected ending. And if this wasn’t enough, it’s for a good cause. Profits from book sales go to a free art school in the Bronx that helps young artists go to college. So, this one is a no-brainer . . . . I give Al and Teddy 5 stars!

The more picture books I read with my girls, the more I come to appreciate books that promote goodness and love.  I am glad that this book crossed my path.  It is a true joy and promotes the happy, wonderful things about having  little ones.   Waldman can not only reach children with words — his illustrations are among the best in the business. The images in this work are  pure parental delight and place this sibling tale an aesthetic notch above the rest.

Nana’s Gift offers a timeless message about intergenerational family relationships

Nana’s Gift is a heartwarming, touching, and beautifully written picture book by Agy Wilson, Darlee Sims is left at Nana’s for the weekend and at first is not happy with it. But having fun with Nana, Pasha and Honey, Darlee learns about her family, and best of all herself. With wonderful illustrations that have a hand-drawn look, Nana’s Gift offers a timeless message about intergenerational family relationships.


With the ever increasing older population, it is important for children to learn to appreciate contributions to our society by older people, writes Karen Debord in Selecting Children’s Books with Positive Intergenerational Messages.

Storybooks can be one vehicle to breaking stereotypes about aging. Using books to portray ideas is an excellent exercise in literacy but also helps children construct their knowledge of how they fit into the larger world. The difficulty for teachers is in keeping up with current titles that portray accurate and positive images of today’s society.
*****

Here is a look inside the book:
In her article, Debord suggests we pay attention to the following considerations when selecting good books to use with children:

realistic and believable portrayal of characters
a story that chronologically unfolds
a resolution of tension or conflict
simple plot to allow the child to become involved in the action, discovering the problem and understanding the resolution
a theme that relates to children’s understanding, needs and interests.
style that involves rhythm, repetition and a careful choice of words
portrayal of a diversity of culture, community and lacks stereotypes
characters are engaged in a variety of activities

“I love family, art, environment, history, calligraphy and all things language,” writes Wilson. “It’s only natural for me throw it into a huge pot and cook up my books. When I’m not playing with kids or pets, I’m usually immersing myself in my work.”
Bridge the generation gap with titles like this one that portray positive relationships between the old and young — sure to spark discussion.

Four classic Richard Scarry titles re-released along with a newly discovered, previously unpublished picture book

Random House Children’s Books has acquired U.S. Rights to Richard Scarry’s THE BEST LOWLY WORM BOOK EVER, a newly discovered, previously unpublished picture book.

Richard Scarry is one of the world’s best-loved children’s authors ever! Generations of children all over the world have grown up spending hours poring over Richard Scarry’s oversize books filled with the colorful details of their lives. No other illustrator has shown such a lively interest in the words and concepts of early childhood. Born in 1919, Richard Scarry was raised and educated in Boston, Massachusetts. After five years of drawing maps and designing graphics for the U.S. Army, he moved to New York to pursue a career in commercial art. But after showing his portfolio to one of the original editors at Golden Books, he found the perfect home for his children’s books. In the extraordinary career that followed, Richard Scarry illustrated well over 100 books, many of which have never been out of print.

This acquisition coincides with the launch of Random House Children’s Books rebranding program, which begins with the re-release of four classic Richard Scarry titles with a brand-new cover design. Kicking off the program is Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever, celebrating its 50th year in print. With over 4.5 million copies in domestic sales, every oversized spread in this Scarry classic has hundreds of things for children to look at, point to, and identify. Additional titles on sale today are Mr. Paint Pig’s ABC’s, Richard Scarry’s Best Little Board Book Ever, and Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy, Town!

“Parents and children have delighted in my father’s fun library for well over 50 years now,” says Huck Scarry. “This fresh look to the books should ensure that the love for his adorable characters will surely thrive for a whole new generation.”

The newly discovered and acquired picture book, THE BEST LOWLY WORM BOOK EVER, will be published in August 2014 and will be a welcome addition to the library of Scarry books published by Random House Children’s Books. The manuscript was discovered by Scarry’s son, Richard “Huck” Scarry, in his father’s studio. It is thought to date from around 1990 (Richard died in 1994). Written and sketched by Richard Scarry with illustrations completed by his son, the book centers on one of the most beloved Busytown characters: Lowly Worm.

“With over 300 million books sold worldwide and his books translated into dozens of languages, Richard Scarry is a household name,” says Loehr. “We are thrilled to be working with his son, Huck Scarry, to bring THE BEST LOWLY WORM BOOK EVER to fans old and new.”

Continuing in the Richard Scarry tradition of introducing the words and concepts of early childhood, in THE BEST LOWLY WORM BOOK EVER, Lowly takes readers through a typical busy day: going to school, helping on the farm, learning good manners, and traveling in some of his amazing vehicles. Children can also search for him in a fun “Where’s Lowly?” section and join in as he counts to 20. As with the classic Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things that Go (celebrating 40 years in print in 2014), readers can find Goldbug on every double-page spread.

Upcoming Scarry anniversaries include I Am a Bunny (1963, 50th anniversary), Chipmunk’s ABC (1963, 50th anniversary), The Gingerbread Man (1953, 60th anniversary), Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things that Go (1964, 40th anniversary), and Richard Scarry’s Best Mother Goose Book Ever (1964, 50th anniversary). The anniversaries celebrated over the coming years are further evidence of what a prolific and beloved author Richard Scarry was and continues to be.

Random House & Golden Books for Young Readers Editorial Director Heidi Kilgras will edit the book.

Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book By Rod Campbell is a Great First Book

In this delightful tale about a youngster looking for the perfect pet, readers can lift the flaps to see the animals the zoo has sent. New art and a gold-ink cover for this 25th anniversary edition give this classic a fresh new look.
Readkiddoread said:

You’ll have a basket of fun with this interactive lift-the-flap board book which will get your babies and toddlers joining right in. It starts, “I wrote to the zoo to send me a pet. They sent me an . . .” On the right hand page, there’s a yellow box marked “VERY HEAVY!” Pull down on the little tab, and there’s a big gray elephant in there. The text says, “He was too big! I sent him back.” On each successive page is an unsuitable animal in a crate. The giraffe is too tall, the lion too fierce, the camel too grumpy, the snake too scary, the monkey too naughty, and the frog too jumpy. Little ones will pull open each flap, call out the name of the animal, and repeat the refrain. What is the perfect pet? A dog, of course. This is the 25th Anniversary edition of the book … though there’s also a spiffy pop-up version available.

And an amazon reviewer called it a great first book:

My daughter has loved this book from the very beginning. She was fascinated by the animals revealed when I lifted the flaps, and then had a great time learning how to lift the flaps herself as she grew older. She’s a year old now and brings it to me to read to her more than any other book that we have. She gets a kick out of the animal sounds we make when we lift the flaps, too. It’s the only lift-the-flap book we have that she hasn’t managed to tear off any flaps. I think this book has been instrumental in showing her how much fun books can be – I highly recommend it.

Campbell’s famous work, first published in 1982, was enormously popular among very young children  in Britain. It has been translated into Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Persian, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Panjabi, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese, as well as being published in a number of formats and alongside various merchandise