Easy Readers 3 & up
Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Illustrated by Pat Schories
* My Brother, Ant by Betsy Byars. Illustrated by Marc Simont
* Wizard and Wart at Sea by Janice Lee Smith. Illustrated by Paul
Meisel
Blast Off! selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrated by Melissa
Sweet
Pinky and Rex and the Bully by James Howe. Illustrated by Melissa
Sweet
Fire at the Triangle Factory by Holly Littlefield. Illustrated by
Mary O'Keefe Young
NOTES FROM THE WINDOWSILL ISSN 1078-8697
An electronic journal of book reviews. Copyright 1996 Wendy E. Betts.
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Vol. 4, No. 7g Easy Readers, ages 3 & up 7/31/96
__ Biscuit_ by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Illustrated by Pat Schories.
HarperCollins, 1996 (0-06-026197-8) $14.95
Like many dogs--and some people too--Biscuit doesn't like to go to bed
without a snack. . . and a drink. . . and a story. . . and . . . This
book for just beginning readers makes clever use of repeated words and
phrases to give some cumulative, familiar humor to the very
easy-to-read story. (3-5)
__ My Brother, Ant_ by Betsy Byars. Illustrated by Marc Simont. Viking,
1996 (0-670-86664-4) $11.99
This book introduces two delightful characters, a loveable little boy
nicknamed Ant, and his sometimes patient, sometimes exasperated big
brother. The nameless brother narrates four episodes, describing how
he makes the monster under AntUs bed go away, copes with the drawing
Ant does on his spelling homework, tries to read Ant a story--with
many interruptions--and helps him write an unusual letter to Santa, in
July. Byars depicts a believable relationship with warmth and humor,
assisted by Simont's expressive and imaginative illustrations. *
(5-8)
__ Wizard and Wart_ at Sea by Janice Lee Smith. Illustrated by Paul
Meisel. HarperCollins, 1995 (0-06-024754-1); Harper Trophy, 1996
(0-06-44218-7) $3.75 pb
When Wizard and his dog Wart go on a seaside vacation, Wizard is
determined not to do any magic. But when seagulls start pestering
them as they lounge in the sun, Wizard loses his temper and casts an
impulsive spell. Next thing they know, everyoneUs vacation is being
ruined--by goats on the beach, whales in the sea and monkeys in the
pool. Can Wizard save the day without making things even worse?
Unexpectedly offbeat and witty, this hilarious story is sheer fun. *
(5-8)
__ Blast Off!_ selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. Illustrated by Melissa
Sweet. HarperCollins, 1995 (0-06-024260-4); HarperTrophy, 1996
(0-06-444219-5) $3.75 pb
The beauty and mystery of outer space makes a terrific theme for this
collection of easy-to-read poems. Simple but evocative, the poems
pack exciting images and ideas into their short lines: "Who knows
what giant worlds are spinning round a star? Who knows if a distant
people wonder where we are?" The accompanying watercolors offer
spirited and whimsical interpretations of the text. (5-8)
__ Pinky and Rex and the Bully_ by James Howe. Illustrated by Melissa
Sweet. Simon & Schuster, 1996 (0-689-80021-5); Aladdin, 1996
(0-689-80834-8) $3.99 pb
The latest short chapter book in the Pinky and Rex series continues to
explore the ups-and-downs of two individualistic best friends. In
this story, Pinky's whole identity is threatened when a bully taunts
him for liking the color pink and being friends with Rex. As Pinky
sadly tells his favorite stuffed animal, "you're not supposed to be
friends with girls. I mean, it's okay when you're a little kid, but
not when you're seven." Pinky tries to give up everything "girlish,"
including his animals, his best friend and even his name. But an
understanding neighbor has some important advice for him: "Other
people will come and go in your life. Do what's right for the one
person who will always be with you--yourself." The message is hardly
subtle, but it's really the likeable and believable character of Pinky
that offers this book's best argument for being yourself. He and Rex
never seem like they were created to explode stereotypes; they just
are who they are, and that's great. (5-8)
Also available: __ Pinky and Rex and the Double Dad Weekend_ by James
Howe. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Simon and Schuster, 1995
(0-689-31871-5); Aladdin, 1996 (0-689-80835-6) $3.99 pb A lively,
funny story about a family camping trip gone wrong. (5-8)
__ Fire at the Triangle Factory_ by Holly Littlefield. Illustrated by
Mary O'Keefe Young. Carolrhoda, 1996 (0-87614-868-2) $11.96 library
binding
A tragic historical episode, the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist
Company in 1911, is a vivid background for this exciting fictional
story about two friends named Tessa and Minnie. The two teenaged
girls, one Jewish, one Catholic, aren't supposed to be friends--but
when fire breaks out in the factory in which they work, their
friendship saves both of their lives. Although this book is written
at a very low reading level, in short, direct sentences, it's at a much
more advanced interest level; it's probably most appropriate for
remedial use, rather than for beginning readers. (5 & up)