19.05.12
Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday have all passed. If you still need ideas for the youngsters on your gift-giving list, consider books. </p><p>These three publications are by Kansas City area authors. All were released in 2011 and will delight the young readers on your lists.</p><p>• “The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers,” written and illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst (ages 4-8; Dutton Children’s Books; $16.99). The gingerbread girl will tickle the sweet tooth of readers with her candy decorations, but her decidedly feisty attitude will also appeal to readers and listeners.</p><p>• “The Door in the Forest” by Roderick Townley (ages 8-12; Knopf Books for Young Readers; $16.99). A story of secrets, friendships and quicksand — all the elements of an entertaining middle grade novel to curl up with in front of the fireplace.</p><p>• “Liar’s Moon” by Elizabeth C. Bunce (young adult; Arthur A. Levine Books; $17.99). Readers who love magic and mystery will be intrigued by this fantasy novel that wraps up the story line but also leaves a big question at the end. The book stands on its own, but for more background, pick up a copy of “StarCrossed,” where we meet the fascinating thief Celyn Contrare (or Digger). </p><p>If the young readers in your family would rather be reading video screens than the printed page, get them hooked on these books, which have movie connections.</p><p>• “The Hunger Games Collector’s Edition” by Suzanne Collins (young adult; Scholastic Inc.; $30). The movie about Katniss, Peeta, Gale and the world of Panem, where the annual Hunger Games is a competition to death with a lone survivor, comes out in March. Plenty of time to read this book and the riveting sequels, “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay.”</p><p>• The recent release of the movie “Hugo” has renewed interest in Brian Selznick’s illustrated novel, “The Adventures of Hugo Cabret” (ages 8-12; Scholastic Press; $24.99). Don’t let the size of the book scare you away. The 533 pages include 284 illustrations that move readers through the novel in a cinematic way. </p><p>Selznick returned to the bookshelves this year with another illustrated novel, “Wonderstruck” (ages 8-12; Scholastic Press; $29.99), which features the same style of imagery. “Hugo Cabret” is about an orphan who lives in the Paris train station and finds his life mysteriously intertwined with a young girl, a bitter old man and an automaton. In “Wonderstruck,” the author weaves the story of two children 50 years apart, Ben’s tale through words and Rose’s through images. Their lives eventually intersect in a mysterious way.</p><p>Two children’s books are celebrating 50th anniversaries, and, amazingly, they will resonate today as they did in the 1960s.</p><p>• “The Phantom Tollbooth 50th Anniversary Collection” by Norton Juster with illustrations by Jules Pfeiffer (ages 8-12; Knopf Books for Young Readers; $24). Older readers, too, will enjoy the word play in this book about young Milo, who travels to the fantastical Land Beyond in a “car that goes without saying.” Even their parents will enjoy getting reacquainted with Tock the “watchdog, the princesses Rhyme and Reason and the Everpresent Wordsnatcher, to name a few. </p><p>• “The Snowy Day 50th Anniversary Edition” by Ezra Jack Keats (ages 4-6; Viking Juvenile; $19.99) made history when it came out 50 years ago because it featured an African-American child in a picture book. The images and story line of a child’s delight with an overnight snowfall will captivate today’s young readers as we await the first snowfall. Plus, this anniversary edition has pages in the back that tell about Keats’ creative process in developing this book, the first one the illustrator also wrote.</p><p>Some other suggestions: </p><p>• “It’s a Little Book,” written and illustrated by Lane Smith (ages 1-5; Roaring Brook Press; $7.99). Unlike the picture book “It’s a Book,” which caused some controversy because of the use of another word for donkey, this board book targets the youngest readers, who actually may want to play with the book in some of the ways mentioned: “Is it for chewing? No. Is it for wearing? No. Is it for building? No.”</p><p>• If you anticipate cabin fever taking hold over the holiday break, then pick up a copy of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6: Cabin Fever” by Jeff Kinney (ages 8-12; Harry N. Abrams; $13.95) to entertain the troops. Main character Greg Heffley finds himself stuck in his house when a blizzard strikes. The good news? It will delay the eventual confrontation about school property damage that Greg is accused of. The bad news? His family is stuck at home with him. By the way, another “Wimpy Kid” movie, “Dog Days,” is due in theaters Aug. 3.</p><p>• “The Son of Neptune (Heroes of Olympus Book 2)” by Rick Riordan (ages 9-13; Hyperion Books; $19.99). Count on Riordan and Percy Jackson to engage the middle-grade readers with the second book in his Heroes of Olympus series. This novel answers the questions raised about Percy’s disappearance in Book 1, then sets up another series of questions to be answered in the next book. Riordan has more adventures up his sleeve for these best-selling demigods.</p><p>• If you feel that you must give a book with a holiday theme, try the picture book “A Bad Kitty Christmas,” written and illustrated by Nick Bruel (ages 4-8; Roaring Book Press; $15.99). The newest addition to the “Bad Kitty” series is a funny, rollicking, rhyming alphabet adventure for the kitty of a thousand facial expressions. The greedy bad kitty learns the meaning of Christmas in the end — it’s all about family.
Source: Kansas City Star
With admirable and tenacious skill, Richard Rhodes' new book on Hollywood screen legend Hedy Lamarr unveils the inquisitive brain behind the beauty. By Adam Tschorn, Staff Writer Hedy Lamarr, a legend of Hollywood's Golden Age and ...
