Review: And Tango Makes Three

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This a simple sweet story about two gay penguins raising the extra egg of a heterosexual pair. Enjoyable.

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Review: James Mollison: Playground

James Mollison: Playground by Jon Ronson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of the genre where the author takes photographs of people and cultures around the world for purposes of description, comparison, and illustration. The first one of those that I remember reading was Material World: A Global Family Portrait, where families around the world took all of their possessions out of their houses and put them in front of their houses to be photographed. There have been others since then - at least one having to do with the food consumed in a week, I believe.

In this book, the photographer presents pictures of playgrounds in schools around the world, when the children were out at recess. Although I would have loved to have a wider range of examples of different schools and cultures, I think that is, in part, because I found it so intriguing that I just wanted more. My analytical self would love to measure all sorts of things with regard to the kids and cultures photographed: how many pictures show adults supervising the recess? how many show physical aggression? how big is the playing space? what types of structures are available for play? how close together are the students? how many students seem to be in groups? how many seem to be playing alone? are there differences between schools with all boys and schools with both boys and girls? on and on.

Too bad this book has to go back to the library.

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Review: Breaking Stalin's Nose

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This excellent book is a great example of historical fiction and it is carefully written to bring children to the understanding of the seriousness and awfulness of the times, without being too graphic. Kids who aren't quite ready to contemplate the probable outcomes of all the arrests can readily believe that the arrested people are imprisoned. Others will understand the more likely subsequent events.

This might make an excellent read aloud, with students discussing how confusion, fear, and doubt are used by the people in authority to keep the citizens in line. The ethics of lying and/or telling the truth would also make a good discussion.

Very worthwhile.

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Review: Firefly Hollow

Firefly Hollow by Alison McGhee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was a little too sweet for me, but I did like the fact that each of the animal characters had to adjust their expectations and goals.

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Review: From Anna

From Anna by Jean Little
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, with its realistic description of the effects of a disability - in this case poor/limited eyesight. Nice family dynamics.

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Review: Nooks & Crannies

Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am not sure why I didn't expect that much of this book - maybe because I just saw it in the library and hadn't heard anyone talk about it. But I ended up liking it quite a bit. Yes, some of the characterizations are a tiny bit over done, but that is almost necessary in order to follow the clues in this mystery. I think this would make a fun read-aloud for 4th or 5th graders. There is a lot they could speculate about in terms of what is going on. Enjoyable.

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Review: Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep

Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep by Gail Carson Levine
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I normally like re-imagined fairy tales and I like a lot of Gail Carson Levine's work, but this isn't one of my favorites. Part of the reason is my own bias about especially smart people. I actually LIKE them.

One of the fairies gives Sonora the gift of being 10 times as smart as everyone else. That means, according to popular imagery, that she is an obnoxious know-it-all, even as an infant. She even makes up answers to a few questions that are quite wrong, but she, and everyone else, takes them as word, since she is so much smarter than everyone else. Princess Sonora's intelligent brain makes everyone dislike her and she has no friends - not even her parents who also don't want to be around her or listen to her. Sigh.

Prince Christopher, who did not get any fairy blessings, is depicted as naturally curious. He loves to ask questions and listen to the answers. So, the smart guy is OK; the smart girl is obnoxious. Sigh, again.

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