My Top Books for the Eight Nights of Hanukkah

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins tomorrow (Wednesday) at sundown.  When my kids were little, I looked forward to reading them a different Hanukkah story each of the eight nights of the holiday.  I don't think such a thing would have even been possible when I was growing up in the 1960's.  There just weren't the large number of titles available at that time, so I particularly relished being able to choose from so many fun picture books for my own children.  Now that my kids are teenagers, they don't really go in for story time too much anymore, but here are some of my favorites from past years:

1.  Lemony Snicket and Lisa Brown.  The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming:  A Christmas Story (McSweeney's, 2007).  From one of our greatest contemporary Jewish children's writers, Lemony Snicket, aka Daniel Handler, and his wife, the witty illustrator Lisa Brown, comes this hilarious picture book about a latke who has had it up to here with trying to explain Hanukkah to all kinds of Christmas symbols, from candy canes to pine trees.  He can't help screaming because Hanukkah is not a Jewish Christmas!  Absolutely pitch perfect for American Jewish children who are deluged with Christmas symbols in December, and a great read-aloud--the kids will love to join in with the latke as he screams his way through the book!

2.  Arthur Yorink and William Steig.  The Flying Latke (Aladdin, 2002).  Another hilarious read-aloud features a completely wacky story about a family gathering for Hanukkah--they all start arguing with each other and eventually fling a latke out the window, a latke which the government mistakes for a U.F.O.!  Like Mo Willems' Knuffle Bunny, the artwork combines drawings (in this case by William Steig of Shrek fame) and photographs, many of which are of famous people in the children's book world such as Maurice Sendak and Vladimir Radunksy.  Lots of Yiddish words give atmosphere to the story, which seems like something from an old Woody Allen movie.  Unfortunately out of print, but you might find it used or at the library.

3.  Eric Kimmel and Gloria Carmi.  The Chanukkah Guest (Holiday House, 1992).  A delightful comic story set in the Old Country, where Bubba Brayna is so old she's almost blind and deaf, but she still makes the best potato latkes in the village.  On the first night of Hanukkah, she makes a special batch for the rabbi, but when she lets in her guest, she's in for a surprise.  It turns out to be a hungry bear, but she can't tell the difference between the bear and the rabbi!  It doesn't matter, because the bear enjoys the latkes...only what is Bubba to do when the rabbi finally arrives and no latkes are left?

4.  Eric Kimmel and Trina Schart Hyman.  Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Holiday House, 1994).  This Caldecott-honor title is a great read-aloud for the elementary school age crowd (it can be scary for very young children). Hershel of Ostropol, the famous trickster (an actual historical person, by the way) arrives at a tiny village on the first night of Hanukkah.  The villagers are terrorized by wicked goblins, who don't allow any Hanukkah celebrations.  Can Hershel outwit the King of the Goblins himself?  Wonderful illustrations evoke the long-gone world of the Eastern European shtetl.

Hear Eric Kimmel read the story himself at this link.

5.  Michael Rosen and Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson.  Elijah's Angel:  A Story for Chanukah and Christmas (Harcourt, 1992).  This moving story of religious tolerance centers on a young Jewish boy and his friendship with an elderly African-American barber, who carves wooden figures from the Bible.  But when Michael is given a special carved angel as a gift, he is faced with a dilemma, because he knows Judaism forbids graven images.  This story is based on the real-life folk artist Elijah Pierce (1892-1984), whose works can be seen at the Columbus Museum of Art, and features stunning illustrations in a broad-brush folk art style, which seem to have Elijah Pierce's radiant spirit shining through them.  

6.  Issac Bashevis Singer and Maurice Sendak.  Zlateh the Goat and Other Stories (Harper Collins, 2001--originally published 1966).   As far as I'm concerned, Issac Bashevis Singer's wonderful stories about the Polish town of Chelm belong on every child's bookshelf, Jewish or not.  While not all the stories in this collection have to do with Hanukkah, the title story, Zlateh the Goat, is a Hanukkah tale, and makes an excellent read-aloud for older children.  In this touching story, a family decides that they must sell their dairy goat in order to have money for Hanukkah and other necessities.  Twelve-year old Aaron is charged with taking Zlateh to sell to the butcher, but on the way, a terrible snow storm hits.  Zlateh's milk and warmth save the boy's life as they burrow into a haystack, and when they return the family cannot bear to be parted from her.  Combine Singer's wonderful writing with Sendak's inimitable drawings and you have a true classic (and Newbery Honor book).

7.  Maxie Baum and Julie Paschkis.  I Have a Little Dreidel (Scholastic, 2006).  Although this book was not available when my kids were the appropriate age, this would definitely be part of my rotation for preschool and early elementary aged children.  This colorful oversized picture book features the familiar Hanukkah song, supplemented with additional verses depicting all the events of a typical family Hanukkah celebration with relatives arriving, latkes cooking, lighting the candles, eating supper, and finally playing dreidel.  The author includes a recipe for latkes, rules on how to play the dreidel game, and the music for the dreidel song.  

8.  Eric Kimmel and Emily Lisker.  A Hanukkah Treasury (Henry Holt, 1998).    This anthology is a handsomely illustrated compilation of all sorts of Hanukkah goodies, from the story of the Maccabees, the menorah, and the dreidel to traditional songs and blessings, to folk tales about Hanukkah.  In fact this one volume could provide more than enough stories for each of the eight nights, but why should you skimp on Hanukkah books?

For information on some Hanukkah books for children released in 2010, see this informative post by Linda Silver from the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Association of Jewish Libraries.

Tween Tuesday Book Review: Around the World in 100 Days, by Gary Blackwood (Dutton Children's Books, 2010) ISBN 978-0-525-42295-2

Release date:  November 11, 2010


Recommended for ages 10 and up.  

Gary Blackwood, author of the best-selling Shakespeare Stealer series, brings us a rip-roaring historical adventure in this new release loosely inspired by Jules Verne's classic Around the World in 80 Days.

Our hero is Harry Fogg, son of the Phileas Fogg of Verne's tale.  The book opens in 1891 with Harry in jail for reckless driving of his steam-propelled motorcar, The Flash.  Harry, whom his parents want to be a proper English gentleman, likes nothing better than tinkering, preferring "gadgets to guns and horseless carriages to horses."  But the story really begins at his father's gentleman club, where Harry makes a wager no one thinks he can win--that he can drive his motorcar around the world in 100 days.  Since Harry has no money of his own, his father agrees to back the bet, but with a condition--if he loses he must abandon his tinkering and take up a suitable profession for a gentleman.

Soon Harry leaves, accompanied by his boyhood friend, Johnny--a crack mechanic and co-builder of The Flash, and Charles Hardiman, who comes along as an impartial observer to make sure all rules are followed (the vehicle must travel under its own power, except when crossing bodies of water).  They are soon joined by a somewhat mysterious girl reporter, Elizabeth.  Their travels take them across the Atlantic, then crossing the United States, and on to Asia, driving across China, Siberia, Russia, and then  Europe.   Needless to say they meet with many adventures and unexpected mishaps, including possible sabotage, upon their route.  Will they make it back to London in time to win their bet?

Blackwood incorporates plenty of light-hearted comedy as well as suspense into the story, along with colorful Cossack cavalrymen, bandits, and Indian gentlemen wearing turbans.  The author also adds a very contemporary multicultural angle into what otherwise would be a traditional adventure story; our hero, Harry, is multi-racial, with a British father and an Indian mother.  Some of his Indian heritage rises to the surface during his travels, as he learns the value of meditation, for example.

I would highly recommend this title to young people who enjoy adventure stories; with all the details about motorcars and engines, this story will also appeal to kids who, like Harry, enjoy "tinkering."  A strong female character in Elizabeth adds some girl appeal as well.  While this title is best suited for 10 and up, the content and style are also appropriate for younger readers who read above their grade level.

Robin Hood: Superhero of Days of Yore

Book Review:  Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, retold by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Orchard Books, 2010)  ISBN 978-0-439-62538-8
Recommended for ages 5 to adult. 


Award-winning author Robert D. San Souci, perhaps best known for his retellings of traditional tales (as well as his Dared to be Scared series!) and award-winning illustrator, E. B. Lewis  have brought us a gorgeous new oversized picture book based on one of the best-known super-heroes of the olden days, Robin Hood.  


In this particular tale, which San Souci adapted from earlier versions (dating to the 15th century), Robin's nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham, comes up with what he thinks is a sure-fire method to capture Robin and his band of outlaws:  an archery contest with an arrow of pure gold as the prize.  Sure enough, Robin, who of course is the best archer around, can't ignore the challenge, and he and his men arrive at the contest in disguise.  As expected, Robin is one of the final two archers, but no one recognizes him disguised as a one-eyed beggar.  Will Robin outfox the Sheriff and collect the prize?  


This lushly illustrated tale, featuring splendid watercolors of Sherwood Forest, dappled with sunlight emerging from the green trees, as well as its famous occupants, is a wonderful addition to the Robin Hood canon, and should be a popular read-aloud that adults as well as children would enjoy.  For those kids who love contemporary superheroes like Iron Man and Spider Man, this story provides an ideal avenue to introduce them to one of our culture's earliest superheroes. 


If this one tale sparks your child's interest in Robin Hood, there are many resources available to learn more about this immortal character.  


Online, you might want to start with the following websites:

• Robin Hood:  Bold Outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood  
• The Robin Hood Project at the University of Rochester
• Sherwood Forest Trust.

For listening, the inimitable children's storyteller Jim Weiss has a CD available that combines Robin Hood with The Three Musketeers, perfect for the car or bedtime.  Or to hear the original sung versions of these stories, which were originally told by medieval and renaissance era minstrels, try the Robin Hood Ballad Project.  


For reading, there are hundreds of versions of Robin Hood tales aimed at children and teens.  Here are just a few that you may want to explore:  

• Robin Hook, Pirate Hunter, by Eric Kimmel  (Scholastic, 2001).  A picture book which blends Peter Pan and Robin Hood.  
• The Story of Robin Hood, by Rob Lloyd Jones (Usborne, 2010).  A full-color picture book aimed at beginning readers.
• The Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle (Classic Starts series, Sterling, 2005).  An abridged version of Pyle's classic version of Robin Hood stories, suitable for second through fifth grade.  An unabridged version of Pyle's stories is also available from Sterling publishers.
• The Adventures of Robin Hood, by Roger Lancelyn Green (Puffin Classics, 2010).  The classic stories, retold by an expert storyteller.  Selected as one of Puffins' 70 Best Children's books.  
• Outlaw:  The Legend of Robin Hood, by Tony Lee and Sam Hart (Candlewick, 2009).  A graphic novel version of the Robin Hood legends.  
• Hawksmaid:  The Untold Story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian, by Kathryn Lasky (Harper Collins, 2010).  Lasky reimagines the story of Robin's love interest for contemporary teens.

For viewing, don't forget the dozens of feature films made about the legendary hero, who has been played by actors from Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn (my personal favorite made in 1938 by Warner Bros. with costars Olivia De Havilland and Basil Rathbone), Sean Connery, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, and Russell Crowe, among others.  And for the youngest viewers, the 1973 Disney version features Robin Hood and Maid Marian as foxes.  

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: The Good, the Bad, and the BARBIE: A Doll's History and Her Impact on Us, by Tanya Lee Stone (Viking, 2010) ISBN 978-0-670-01187-2

Recommended for ages 10 through adult.

I'm not embarrassed to admit it in this blog or elsewhere---I love Barbie, still the world's best-selling doll, over 50 years after she was introduced by Mattel.  When I grew up in the 60's and 70's, I spent hours with my sister and various friends playing with Barbie and her many sisters, friends, boyfriends and accessories.  I still have my Barbie collection from when I was a girl, as well as some that probably belonged to my sister, although I now regret dumping at some point Barbie's very cool peach Corvette.

But I digress--I do plan actually to talk about this new release from award-winning author Tanya Lee Stone, whose prior books for young people have focused on women astronauts, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Abraham Lincoln, and other topics dubbed more "serious" by most people.  Being a Barbie fan, I was familiar with much of the basic biographical information outlined in this book: how Ruth Handler and her husband founded Mattel, how she spotted a sexy adult Bild-Lilli doll on a family trip to Europe, and took it back with her to Los Angeles to become the model for the first Barbie doll, envisioned as a teen fashion model and named after her own daughter Barbara. Stone places Barbie's birth firmly within the social and cultural context of the 1950's, comparing the early Barbie to the famous pin-up photograph of Betty Grable.  When Barbie debuted in 1959 at the New York Toy Fair, she was not an immediate hit; in fact male buyers thought Mattel's executives were out of their mind because of Barbie's prominent breasts.  Of course, Barbie soon caught on, and a legend was born--a legend with a fabulous wardrobe.

But Barbie's not just a fashion plate--she's had over 120 different careers, from stereotypical female roles such as teacher and stewardess to male-dominated fields such as surgeon, astronaut, computer engineer, pilot and president.  These career Barbies spark passionate debate among women as to whether these dolls actually encourage girls to pursue male-dominated careers.  But Stone notes that "It is Choice--with a capital C--that women have fought to have.  It doesn't matter what the choice turns out to be, as long as it is your own."

Stone discusses many aspects of Barbie's history, including the evolution of Barbie's body type, and whether she encourages little girls to have unrealistic body expectations, as well as the development of black and Hispanic Barbies.  I learned that a few years ago, a Muslim competitor to Barbie named Fulla was introduced by a Syrian company; she wears a hijab and comes with her own prayer mat.  Stone touches on Barbie's appeal as a sex object as well as her use in literature and art.

Stone fills in her facts and reflexions about Barbie's evolution with a myriad of quotes from celebrities and ordinary women and girls about their relationship with the famous icon.  Some, like author Meg Cabot, love Barbie, while others, like author Anna Quindlen, hate her with an equal passion. Stone asks in her conclusion whether Barbie is positive, negative, or both?  Her book will not answer this question, but it will certainly provoke debate, critical thought, and discussion among those who read it. 

The book is lavishly illustrated with both color and black and white photographs of Barbie through the years and other archival photos, including Barbie art.  This is a volume likely to appeal as much to adult readers as to the teen audience at which the book is targeted.  

This Barbie biography has been well received by the usual library journals, receiving starred reviews in School Library Journal, Booklist, and Kirkus.  For blog reviews of this title, check out some of the following:


Bookish Blather,  Becky's Book Reviews, Before I forget, Cynsations, Young Adult Books Central, and Librarian by Day. 

For teens or adults who are interested in learning more about Barbie, here are a few noteworthy titles:

M. G. Lord.  Forever Barbie:  The unauthorized biography of a real doll (Walker & Co., 2004)
Robin Gerber.  Barbie and Ruth:  The Story of the World's Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her (Harper Business, 2009)
Jennie d'Amato.  Barbie All Dolled Up:  Celebrating 50 Years of Barbie (Running Press, 2009).

If you, too, have fond memories of Barbie but haven't looked at what Mattel is making these days, check out the Barbie Collector store for adults, where you can buy not only elaborately dressed designer dolls (including an especially stunning Barbie as Cleopatra, unfortunately sold out) but also Barbie-themed adult clothing, purses, and jewelry.  Here's the link.

Barbie Video Girl

And wouldn't you know it, Barbie has her own blog.   Mattel continues to innovate with Barbie--a new 2010 release (not in Stone's book) is Video Girl Barbie, who comes now with a video camera in her necklace, and a little screen on her back--she's her own movie-making machine, letting you see the world through Barbie's eyes.  Movies can be uploaded to your computer and edited and then shared with friends or posted to Barbie.com.  One blogger calls her a "Bionic technologically advanced Barbie who was meant to hang out with the soon to be released Computer Engineer Barbie."  (see a review at Chipchick.com).  

Faberge Imperial Elegance Barbie

And, I can't resist, here is a photo of my favorite Barbie from my own personal collection, Faberge Imperial Elegance Barbie from 1998.  This is one of those "adult collectibles" that are definitely too fancy to play with--when my daughter was younger I dubbed them "shelf dolls" because they stayed on the shelf!

Book Review: George Washington's Spy: A Time Travel Adventure, by Elvira Woodruff (Scholastic, 2010) ISBN 978-0-545-10487-6

Recommended for ages 8-12.  


Looking for exciting time travel books for your young patrons or students who've read their way through the Magic Tree House, the Time Warp Trio, and others series of that ilk?  Elvira Woodruff's George Washington's Spy might just fit the bill for these readers.  A magic rowboat at a lake near their home sweeps fifth grader Matt, his annoying little sister Katie, and four friends from their Nebraska home back to 1776 Boston, where they land in a freezing and dark forest and their magic boat quickly disappears.  It's a dangerous time, with the British in Boston and George Washington and his troops trying to drive the British from the city.

The boys go to look for help for Katie, who has injured her foot, while the girls remain behind, but with the freezing weather, they must seek shelter when the boys do not quickly come back for them.  They are fortunate to be taken in by a kind woman, Mistress Hewson, and her young daughters, who, through a series of funny misunderstandings, believe that the girls are related to the British Earl of Essex.  They take the three girls into their home, where they try to blend in by acting "colonial."  They soon discover that the family who is so kind to them is a Loyalist family--enemies of George Washington and the Patriots!

And what has become of Matt and his friends?  They've been taken prisoner by a group of Patriots, where they meet Benjamin Franklin, and Matt is drawn into George Washington's spy network, complete with letters written in invisible ink, messages hidden in buttons and secret passwords.  Can Washington make the British Redcoats leave Boston, and will Matt, Katie, and their friends ever get back home?

The author does not shirk from exploring the complex politics of the time, when even Benjamin Franklin's own family was split, with his son siding with the Tories and the King.  Everything is not black and white, like the children thought from history class.  Mistress Hewson "may have been a Tory, but she acted like any other mother."  At the book's conclusion, the children ponder the moral complexities of the Revolution, wondering how good people like the Hewsons could be America's enemies.  "I thought choosing sides would be so simple, but it's not," remarks one of the girls.

While this title is a sequel to Woodruff's George Washington's Socks, there's no problem reading this one without having read the earlier book.  I particularly enjoyed how Woodruff weaves real historical figures into the story, including Washington (who makes a brief appearance toward the end) and Franklin.  In addition to offering plenty of suspense and adventure, the author fills her book with plenty of humorous details, such as the kids' repeated tries to get their cell phones to work in 1776 (out of range and no signal light up on the phone), their cravings for pizza, chocolate, and marshmallows, Benjamin Franklin trading his boots, with buckles made by Paul Revere, for the sneakers of one of the time-travelers, and the Hewson girls' fascination with nail polish and underpants,   But in addition to humor, we also see the harshness of the times, with prisoners in the stocks, smallpox epidemics, public floggings, a character being tarred and feathered, while another is hung for treason by the British.

Author's notes provide historical details on a number of topics, including Loyalists, colonial spies, and the Battle of Dorchester.  The book also includes a glossary of revolutionary-war vocabulary used in the book, as well as a brief bibliography.

This book would be an excellent choice for students interested in history, adventure stories, or time travel.  I can also imagine this book as a very fun and engaging read-aloud for teachers to use in the classroom.  Also, this book would be appropriate for children who are younger than 8 but who are advanced readers for their age.  And at 229 pages, this novel won't intimidate reluctant readers.

A teacher's guide can be found on the author's website.

The Fourth Musketeer around the Blogosphere

Many thanks to Danielle over at the award-winning children's book blog, There's a Book, for featuring The Fourth Musketeer on her occasional feature, When I was Young, over at her blog today.  Take a look at her post to learn more about me and why I started blogging!

And thanks also to children's book author Audrey Vernick, who wrote about The Fourth Musketeer on her blog She Loved Baseball:  An Author's Thoughts from Left Field.   Audrey just published a terrific picture book biography about Negro League team owner and civil rights activist Effa Manley, reviewed on my blog during my recent Girl Power week. 

With Thanksgiving coming up, we all count our blessings.  One thing I'm thankful for is the support of so many great people out there in the blogosphere, who are so generous with their time, advice, and enthusiasm!

Tween Tuesday Book Review: The Fences Between Us: The Diary of Piper Davis, by Kirby Larson (Scholastic, 2010) ISBN 9780545224185

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Green Bean Teen Queen that highlights great reads for tweens.


Recommended for ages 8-12.  

Award-winning author Kirby Larson, author of many outstanding titles including the Newbery winner Hattie Big Sky, offers us the first title in a relaunch of Scholastic's popular  Dear America series.  The Fences Between Us is the diary of Piper Davis, the appealing 13-year old daughter of a pastor at a Japanese Baptist church in 1941 Seattle.  When her 18-year old big brother Hank and his two best buddies (known among themselves as the Three Musketeers) enlist in the Navy, they're sent to Pearl Harbor, where the family thinks they will be far away from any action.  In the meantime, Piper and her best friend Trixie share typical girl worries--does Bud with the gorgeous green eyes who's in their class really like Piper?  The reader knows, though, that trouble is coming, and we live with Piper through the shock of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the terror of not knowing if her brother is alive or dead.

Soon Japanese-Americans she has known her whole life are arrested by the FBI, and sent to prison, without proper charges.  Her life at home is changing too, as her older sister gets married to her sweetheart, who soon ships off to England, and then begins working at Boeing as one of the Rosie Riveters.  And although she's not really supposed to date, Piper's secretly going steady with Bud, who's given her his pin, and she's exploring her love for photography as she studies Margaret Bourke-White for a school report.  But things are about to become much worse for her father's congregants.  Piper watches as the Japanese from Bainbridge Island are the first to go, sent to Camp Harmony, a place where there is nothing harmonic at all.  A former fairgrounds, Japanese-American families sleep in converted horse stalls.  Within weeks all their Seattle Japanese-American friends are also deported to Camp Harmony, and after that to a permanent war relocation camp in Idaho. Piper is surprised that at her school, her classmates carry on as if everything is normal, "as if a quarter of our student population wasn't missing...I know this relocation plan is...meant to help us feel safe.  But when I look around, I don't feel safe; I feel sad," she writes in her diary.

When Piper's Pop decides to join his flock at the Minidoka relocation camp, Piper is distraught and furious with him, but has no choice but to accompany him.  The second half of the book takes place at the camp near Eden, Idaho.  The camp itself "is worse than I ever imagined."  And Piper and her father are not popular in town--restaurants refuse to serve them and landlords won't rent to them because they're "Jap-lovers."  Piper decides to attend school in the camp with the Japanese kids instead of in town, even though they have no chalkboards, desks, or even books.  The camp residents try to make life as "normal" as possible,  but it takes months to even get necessities such as coal stoves or regular toilets for the residents.

Larson provides plenty of details about life on the home front, from civil defense drills, Victory gardens, and the agonizing waits to hear from relatives on the front lines, as well as many details about life in the internment camp that Kirby garnered from personal interviews with camp residents as well as many other sources.  Through all the hardships, Piper learns that "even if we can't do much about the fences that get built around people, when fences get built between people, it's our job to tear them down."

Remarkably, we learn in an afterword that this story is based on the real-life story of Pastor Andy Andrews, who moved from Seattle to Twin Falls, Idaho, to be near his congregation, all of whom had been sent to Minidoka.  This choice was very hard on his family, and author Larson writes "He did what he believed was right, no matter what."  We can all be glad that Larson has chosen to share a story based on such a quietly heroic figure.

This is a terrific addition to a well-loved series, perfect for those readers who have outgrown American Girl and Magic Treehouse but enjoy history-related titles.  As is typical in this series, there is an afterword with additional information and photographs of life in American during this period (1941), as well as links to helpful websites on Camp Harmony, Minidoka, and oral histories of those incarcerated at these camps.  Also, check out Scholastic's new Dear America site for news of other releases in this series and to experience Piper's scrapbook and other activities.  There is also a companion site for teachers.

I would also recommend a related book published earlier this year, Best Friends Forever:  A World War II Scrapbook, by Beverly Patt, which explores the close friendship between two 14-year old girls, one of whom is Japanese-American, during the same time period.

For adults who would enjoy a good novel involving the Japanese community in Seattle during World War II, I recommend the Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, a 2009 romantic historical novel that tells the story of a young Chinese-American boy who falls in love with a Japanese-American girl on the eve of World War II.

Related articles

• The Dear America series rides again! (thesassylibrarian.blogspot.com)

Nonfiction Monday Book Review: William Shakespeare: His Life and Times, by Kristen McDermott and Ari Berk (Templar Books, 2010) ISBN 978-0-7636-4794-0

Recommended for ages 8 and up.


This handsome interactive volume, similar to the "Ology" series also published by Candlewick (the highly popular Pirateology, Dragonology, etc.), purports to be William Shakespeare's personal scrapbook, put together in April, 1613, on the eve of his retirement from London to Stratford-upon Avon.

The book is filled with all kinds of fun envelopes and tiny books to open and peruse, as well as a plethora of color illustrations.  Candlewick provides a You-Tube video in which each page is turned and the viewer can see how various parts of the book open, allowing potential readers to see the layout of the book without bothering to visit the bookstore.

Written in a kind of mock-Elizabethan style, Shakespeare writes his reminiscences for the benefit of his daughter, Judith.  Sidebars supplement these faux memoirs with facts, such as we know them, about Shakespeare's life, although the authors are careful to note that, for all his fame, we really know relatively little about Shakespeare's life.  Nonetheless, the Bard recounts his childhood days in Stratford, including frolicking in the Forest of Arden with his siblings, his school days, courting and then progresses to talking about his marriage to Anne Hathaway, the birth of their children and the loss of his beloved son Hamnet at the age of 11.  Shakespeare's scrapbook touches on a wide variety of topics, including life in London, the Globe Theatre, his fellow players, love and war, feasts and fun in Elizabethan England, life at court, ghosts and fairies, and more.  The scrapbook concludes with Shakespeare's Last Will and Testament, and a letter from Shakespeare to his daughter Judith.

The book is not really laid out in a manner that would make it easily usable for a school biographical report on Shakespeare, but it could certainly supplement a more conventional biography and would make a valuable and entertaining classroom resource for teachers to have on hand when studying Shakespeare plays.  Although the book is suitable for ages 8 and above, it may be more likely to appeal to students who have already begun studying Shakespeare in school (here in California that's in middle school).  If a parent were taking a child to their first Shakespeare performance, this scrapbook would also be excellent to read together to provide historical background.  Brief excerpts from various plays are included, as are synopses of some of his key works.

As the holidays approach, I can't help but think what a lovely holiday gift this would make to a favorite English teacher!

For more on Shakespeare, don't forget to explore the Folger's Library's website, which includes an extensive section for students and families, as well as an outstanding array of resources for teachers.

Young readers interested in reading more about Shakespeare's life might enjoy Bard of Avon:  The Story of William Shakespeare, by Diane Stanley and Peter Venemma (Harper Collins, 1998), or
Shakespeare:  His Work and His World, by Michael Rosen (Candlewick, 2006).

For more great non-fiction books for young people, check out the links to this week's Nonfiction Monday posts at In Need of Chocolate.

Enter to win Happy Haul-idays contest from Chronicle Books!

Do you love free stuff?  I received an offer today from Chronicle Books  that I couldn't turn down: they are having a "happy haul-idays!" contest for book bloggers.  You post a list of Chronicle Books valued at up to $500 that you’d like to haul in, and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing to WIN your list of books! And, what's even more fun, one of your readers who comments on the post will win the list too!  Who doesn't love to win things, especially books, and from one of the best publishers out there! 

I had such fun picking out a list of books from their wonderful inventory--and you never know, someone has to win these things!  I picked out lots of kids books and also some items that would be fun for busy parents.  Perhaps the Fourth Musketeer and one of her lucky readers will win this fabulous prize package!


To enter, just leave a comment below!  If I win, you may also be a winner!  Check out my picks below, and don't forget to leave a comment.  You may also want to take a look at Chronicle's website for your own holiday shopping. Chronicle not only publishes unique books, they have many attractive gift items at well.   Their site is really fun and easy to browse.  Chronicle will announce the winning blog and follower on December 13, but you must enter by December 10.  If I somehow win, some of the titles will be donated to the Los Angeles Times annual Reading by 9 Holiday Book Drive, which distributes new and gently used book to K-3 classrooms in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura Counties.  

ITEMS				TOTAL
	Count: 4, 5, 6 By Simms Taback			$4.99
	Mommies and Babies By Simms Taback			$4.99
	Zoom By Simms Taback			$4.99
	Peek-a-Boo Who? By Simms Taback			$8.99
	In My Den By Sara Gillingham Illustrated by Lorena Siminovich			$8.99
	Mini Goals Notepad By Mary Kate McDevitt			$9.95
	Hope Valley Sticky Notes & To-Do's By Denyse Schmidt			$12.95
	Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee By Chris Van Dusen			$31.98
	Out of Sight By Pittau & Gervais			$19.99
	Counting Chickens Mobiles by Flensted			$16.99
	Ivy and Bean Boxed Set 2 By Annie Barrows Illustrated by Sophie Blackall			$19.99
	The Ivy and Bean Secret Treasure Box By Annie Barrows Illustrated by Sophie Blackall			$19.99
	Long Tail Kitty By Lark Pien			$14.99
	Alphabeasties and Other Amazing Types By Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss			$19.99
	I Know a Lot of Things By Paul and Ann Rand			$16.99
	Tools By Taro Miura			$15.95
	Dreaming with Rousseau By Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober			$6.95
	Mini Masters Boxed Set By Julie Merberg and Suzanne Bober			$19.99
	Mommy Loves By Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben			$5.95
	Passover: Celebrating Now, Remembering Then By Harriet Ziefert Illustrated by Karla Gudeon			$17.99
	Let Freedom Sing By Vanessa Newton			$16.99
	Giant Pop-Out Farm			$10.99
	Photobooth Dogs By Cameron Woo			$14.95
	36 1/2 Reasons to Laugh By Rick Adams			$12.95
	Life's Too Short to Fold Fitted Sheets By Lisa Quinn			$18.95
	1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment By Barbara Kipfer			$9.95
	Disneystrology By Lisa Finander			$16.95
	A Child's Garden of Verses By Robert Louis Stevenson			$19.99
	Cake Pops by Bakerella By Angie Dudley			$19.95
	Whoopie Pies By Sarah Billingsley and Amy Treadwell Photographs by Antonis Achilleos			$16.95
	Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids By Jill O'Connor Photographs by Leigh Beisch			$19.95
	L.A. Bizarro By Anthony Lovett and Matt Maranian			$19.95
	Hooked on Hiking: Southern California By Ann Marie Brown Maps by Lohnes and Wright			$16.95
Sub-Total:				$499.06