The Princess and the Frog Junior Novelization by Irene Trimble
Ages 9-12
RH/Disney (October 13, 2009)
Caution: There is a scary mean guy in this story, as in all Disney stories. He’s less scary in print than on screen.

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Disney’s newest Princess has alot of pluck. She’s not the type to sit around and wait for a prince or nap for years. Nonetheless, Tiana is a strong and confidant woman with alot of ambition and a great role model for girls. She still has the trademark Disney impossibly small waist and gigantic doe eyes, but this is a princess of substance. Can’t wait to see the movie!
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Kids Go! Picture Book and DVD by They Might Be Giants
Simon & Schuster; Har/DVD edition (November 3, 2009)
Ages: 4+
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
We LOVE They Might Be Giants. Love. Love. Love. Not only have they promoted our deep and spiritual admiration for conifers, the letter E and aspiring to be mathletes, they now want us to get up off of the couch. And, you know what? Their song rocked us so hard that we can’t stop dancing. TMBG have a great way with lyrics and beats, and they are also smart enough to have an ace illustrator and a genius video producer. They are the total kid music package all wrapped up in a monkey barrel of fun.

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Winter Shadow (Tell Me a Story) by Richard John Knight and Richard Johnson
Ages 7+
Barefoot Books; 1 edition (November 1, 2009)
Cautions: None
Kiwi Magazine Review:
Ah, the classic dilemma of rescuing an injured baby animal or letting nature handle things. Because we humans personify animals, a baby wolf may be as cute as the plushies on our beds or the cuddly animals on a book’s page. Although Maria rescues the baby wolf and is at odds with neighbors about her choice, it is the wolf that decides whether he will be pet or independent. This story is beautifully written and illustrated, which we’ve come to expect from Barefoot Books.

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The Princess’s Blankets by Carol Ann Duffy
Catherine Hyde (Illustrator)
Ages 4-8
Templar (November 10, 2009)
Cautions: Death, fear

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I would definitely bump the age group up a bit to at least 6-10 because the story is quite long for the younger set and a bit on the dark side. Everyone, however, will appreciate the beauty of the magnificent illustrations. The story has some dark turns about death and similar themes, but it is fascinating and fiercely beautiful, albeit not for more the more sensitive child.

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Truce by Jim Murphy
Scholastic Press (October 1, 2009)
Ages 9-12
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Kudos to Jim Murphy for telling a story that most people have never heard. On the front lines of World War I where lives are lost and soldiers are tested, Jim Murphy tells the true stories of soldiers from opposite sides exchanging kind words, gifts and human kindness. An impromptu truce between British and German soldiers enables the men to take a break from the cacophony and misery of war on Christmas Day. Defying orders not to fraternize with ‘the enemy,’ soldiers paused for a handshake and friendship and found that they had more in common than different. The book has archival photos to accompany the text which makes this fascinating story even more interesting.

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The Magical Ms. Plum by Bonny Becker
Illustrated by Amy Portnoy
Ages 9-12
Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (September 8, 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Ms. Plum is the ideal teacher and reminds me a bit of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle; both know what is best for children, even if the child doesn’t realize it himself.

Ms. Plum is pure magic and her supply closet is even more spectacular. Each child who enters comes out with an animal companion that somehow diagnoses and treats that particular child’s challenge (shyness, aggression, etc…). A stubborn donkey or mischievous monkey help the child work through their challenge and make for a very interesting classroom experience. Caution: you may find your child begging to visit some of your closets in the hopes that a magical furry creature will appear. This book is going to be a family favorite.  There are lots of laughs and some great, positive messages throughout the book.

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A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home by Henry Cole
Ages 9-12
Katherine Tegen Books (February 23, 2010)
Cautions: There are some scary parts and critters are chased and then eaten.

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I couldn’t put this book down. Although I am very sensitive to books with scary parts (I am related to some kids with no tolerance for scary bits), the violence is brief and not at all gratuitous. Since the story is about a little mouse who is looking for the perfect nest, you can imagine what happens when she meets up with cats and other predators. Thankfully, little Celeste has some wild adventures but manages to make friends and remain safe, happy and stuffed with food.

One aspect of this book that I loved was that two of the characters addressed the notion of having to kill animals to be able to paint or draw them. The book references Mr. Audubon and his assistant and readers can see the evolution of their thought process that it was more humane and natural to simply draw birds in their natural habitats than capture or kill them.

The story is compelling and the characters, both animal and human, are multidimensional and interesting. The author, Henry Cole, is also a talented illustrator who enhances the book with charming charcoal drawings.

Sky High: The True Story of Maggie Gee by Marissa Moss
Carl Angel (Illustrator)
Ages 9-12
Tricycle Press (August 11, 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I had never heard of Maggie Gee before reading this book but I was completely enamored with her story. One of only two Chinese American women, she flew for the Air Force in WWII. This is an amazing story, based on Maggie’s real life experiences. Talk about a great book for following your dreams and soaring as high as you can go!

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The Witch’s Guide to Cooking with Children by Keith McGowan
Yoko Tanaka (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. - September 1, 2009
Cautions: the classic tale is updated so beware of witches and mean stepmothers

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Oooooh. That witch from Hansel and Gretel is back and she very well may be living right…next…door. In a conspiracy of lunacy, a whole town seems to be in cahoots with chaos to get those two little urchins to succumb to being the entree on the witch’s table. This updated book is still deliciously naughty.

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Product Description:

When Sol and Connie Blink move to Grand Creek, one of the first people to welcome them is an odd older woman, Fay Holaderry, and her friendly dog, Swift, who carries a very strange bone in his mouth. Sol knows a lot more than the average eleven-year-old, so when he identifies the bone as human, he and Connie begin to wonder if their new neighbor is up to no good.

In a spine-tingling adventure that makes them think twice about who they can trust, Sol and Connie discover that solving mysteries can be a dangerous game-even for skilled junior sleuths.

Kaleidoscope Eyes by Jen Bryant
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, May 2009
Ages: 9-13
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
History mixes seamlessly with the adventures of three young teenagers in Jen Bryant’s brilliant novel. Its 1968, her family is as dysfunctional as ever, and as her neighbors are getting drafted, Lyza is embarking on her very own mission.

Her grandfather left behind maps “for Lyza only” and she would soon discover they were full of more than history - they’d actually lead to real treasure. Bryant details the story of Lyza and her two best friends as they uncover what turns out to be a lot more than pirate’s treasure, but a welcomed distraction and beam of hope in a truly troubled time.

The distinct, poetic format of Bryant’s words keeps the novel constantly exciting, with sentences getting more disheveled as emotions rise. Lyza tells the story herself and you get some very real insight on the world of an eighth grade girl.

Kaleidoscope Eyes is a perfect summer read. Its fun and exciting all alongside a critical year in U.S. history, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading as Lyza and her friends snuck around on their secret adventure.

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