5 Notable Books for Children 2009

FROGS by Nic Bishop


Bishop has put together an amazing collection of photos of frogs in their natural habitat. Whether from afar or examined very close, the very young reader or the very old will be amazed with what he has captured on film. The simple text tells youngsters about basic frog information, and entertains the older set with fun facts. These amazing pieces of work show the reader real frogs in their real habitat and will open the reader’s eyes to an amazing new animal world.

RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE by Shannon and Matt Hale

This is a version of the fairy-tale that girls can be proud of. After Rapunzel’s supposed mother locks her up for not obeying, she is able to create a rope out of her long locks that lead her on an adventure to save her real mother. She decides against the prince, and opts for Jack who is an outlaw that adds even more adventure to the tale. Their long trip is full of adventurous fights and drama that fill the pages of the colorful and artful illustrations of this graphic novel. Set in the Wild West, this fairy-tale has new twists and turns for readers who will never tire of the new spin put on an old tale that was in much need of a makeover.

A is FOR ART: AN ABSTRACT ALPHABET by Stephen T. Johnson

This alphabet book is more than just the letters on the page. It is more than just clever words to represent the letters. This is a piece of art that cleverly teaches the alphabet through not only abstract art but also through the use of creative word choice. First look at this book will not be enough because of the detail involved in each of the pictures. There are also hidden letters of the alphabet among the many types of art he used to create the wonderful pictures for each page.

KNUCKLEHEAD: TALL TALES AND MOSTLY TRUE STIRES ABOUT GROWING UP SCIESZKA by Jon Scieszka

Famed author Jon Scieszka explains the answer to his most frequently asked question: Where do you get your ideas? Jon’s life was full of excitement and adventure as the second boy in a house of five boys living in Flint, Michigan. “I didn’t do it!” was often the phrase to get the boys out of trouble, and their many adventures and follies certainly needed to lay blame on each other. Brother sitting, hand-me-downs, and Jon’s inability to get an ‘A’ in Religion class also filled his life with excitement. It wasn’t just his adventures with his brother that inspired him, but it was also other things like reading (especially war comics), his Catholic school days, and many other things he was a part of. Ultimately though his family seems to be the root of his many stories, and the adventures these kids had were so typical to kids of his generation and yet so missed by many kids today.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A ROBOZO by Carmen Tafolla

The rebozo is a traditional shawl worn by many Mexican and Mexican-American women. In this colorful book a young girl learns the many uses of the rebozo. It can be used for a variety of useful things like as a warm blanket, a cradle for a baby, or to dress up a dress.