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Pageturners: What’s New in Children’s
Books
By Karen Mendez Smith
December 1, 2002
KEAT’S
NEIGHBORHOOD by Jack Ezra Keats |
There’s
no better time than the indoor winter months for sharing books with
young ones!
For
all lovers of picture books (ages 4-8), a collection of ten classic
stories by Jack Ezra Keats is gathered in KEAT’S NEIGHBORHOOD
($25.00, Viking/Penguin, 0670035866). The life of this author/illustrator
is revealed in an engaging afterword with commentary by noted contemporary
illustrators, making this a must-have for every child’s library.
Winner
of this year’s Caldecott Medal is David Weisner’s THE
THREE PIGS ($16.95, Clarion/Houghton-Mifflin, 0590205207).
You can’t help but love the mischievous DAVID GETS
INTO TROUBLE ($15.95, Scholastic, Inc., 043905227) by David
Shannon. Two new picture book biographies are MARTIN’S
BIG WORDS: THE LIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ($15.99,
Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, 0786897148), a 2002 Caldecott Honor Winner,
and FRIDA, a sensitive portrayal of the life of
Frida Kahlo by Jonah Winter and illustrated in vibrant watercolors
by Ana Juan ($16.95, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, Inc.)
THE
THIEF LORD by Cornelia Funke |
Middle
grade readers ages 8-12 will be pleased to discover Linda Sue Park’s
A SINGLE SHARD, winner of the 2002 Newbery Medal,
out in paperback in February ($5.99, Random House, 0440418518).
THE THIEF LORD by Cornelia Funke ($16.95, Chicken
House/Scholastic, Inc., 0439404371) is a new title that has consistently
made both critical and best-seller lists. Set in the rich backdrop
of Venice, Italy, this magical story follows a band of six street
urchins as they unravel a mystery. Another adventurous and humorously
told tale is SAFFY’S ANGEL by Hilary McKay
($16.00, McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster, 0689849338) about
an adopted girl who seeks her mother’s legacy.
For teens ages 12 and up, always a demanding audience, there are
a number of excellent new titles this season. THE LIFE OF
PI by Yann Martel ($25.00, Harcourt, 0151008116) portrays
the death-defying voyage of a young Indian boy named Patel (or Pi
for short). Described as funny, philosophical, redemptive and Kiplingesque,
it recently won the 2002 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.
Harry
Potter IV by J.K. Rowling |
CATALYST
by Laurie Halse Anderson ($17.99, Viking/Penguin, 0670035661) is
another real treasure of a novel featuring 18-year-old Kate Malone,
a preacher’s daughter who faces ordinary and not-so-ordinary
dramas. Lastly, we can’t ignore the newest offerings in series
and movie tie-ins. Even if you missed the debut of Lemony Snickett,
you can somersault right in with THE CARNIVOROUS CARNIVAL:
BOOK THE NINTH (A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS),
illustrated by Brett Helquist ($10.99, HarperCollins, 0064410129).
For Harry Potter Fans, the latest paper edition of HARRY
POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE (#4) ( $8.99, Arthur A. Levine
Books/Scholastic, Inc., 0439139600) is a guaranteed winner. But
why not spring for the boxed set ($30.96, Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic,
Inc.) and really make someone happy! Also sure to make sales records
and new in paper is TUCK EVERLASTING by Natalie
Babbitt ($5.95, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 0374480133). Set in
19th Century New England, this story of the family blessed/cursed
with eternal life will satisfy readers, as well as those interested
in the newly-released movie.
by John U. Washington
try the "Hard Pillow" By J. Ulyesses, Three children looking for there Parents. Civil War era.
RELATED
LINKS:
Industry Trends: Children's book market
recovery continues
Product Summary: Books
To Compete With TV
What
The Experts Says:
Reading Aloud: Your Voice Counts
Book
Review:
Kids' Books Grow Up
Bestsellers: Recommended Reading
in Children’s Books
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