You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter
André Carrilho (Illustrator)
Age Range: 4 to 9
Cautions: Theme of anti-semitism
Schwartz & Wade, 2009

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Baseball beckons and is as much the sign of spring approaching as carpets of cherry blossoms and tulips popping through the soil. But, baseball is best appreciated when fans, new and old, uncover the rich history of the game and some of its most colorful players. This book is suggested for ages 4-9, but we happen to know many ‘kids’ in their 40s, 50s and beyond who will delight in this book, from its holograph cover to its Brooklyn-style account of baseball’s most famous lefty. Instant classic.

Publisher’s Description:
In this striking picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax so amazing. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season-different-firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still “scratchin’ their heads over Sandy,” who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day.

Accompanied by sidebars filled with statistics, here’s a book sure to delight budding baseball fans.

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The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales - Dawn Casey and Anne Wilson
Read Alone: Ages 6-10
Read Together: Ages 4-8
Barefoot Books - April 2009
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
What a lovely book to give to any child to commemorate Earth Day or any day. There are wonderful stories from around the world about treating our friend, the earth, gently and lovingly. There are even recipes and craft projects throughout the book which add an element of creativity and fun. Another great title from Barefoot.

Barefoot Books is working with Eco-Libris, an environmental group that plants a tree for every copy of Earth Tales sold on www.barefootbooks.com this April!

Publisher’s Description:
Discover how the rest of the world is ‘Living Green’!

In this beautiful anthology of folktales, young readers learn how different cultures around the world live in harmony with the rhythms and patterns of nature. Discover how to tread lightly on our precious Earth by following the easy eco-tips and trying out some of the fun and creative activities that accompany each story. The perfect gift for any earth-conscious child!

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Mrs. Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco
Random House Children’s Books, re-release 2009
Ages 4-8
Cautions: References to death

Kiwi Magazine Description:
Bonding over kugel, conversation and cats, neighbors Mrs. Katz and Larnel become the best of friends. It’s a lovely story of an unlikely pair who solidify a forever friendship through shared experience and love.

Author’s Description:
In this special Passover story, Larnel Moore, a young African-American boy, and Mrs. Katz, an elderly Jewish woman, develop an unusual friendship through their mutual concern for an abandoned cat named Tush. Together they explore the common themes of suffering and triumph in each of their cultures.

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3 Willows by Ann Brashares

Random House,  January 2009

Recommended readers – 12+

Cautions: Teenage crushes, divorce

Description from publisher:

summer is a time to grow

seeds


Polly has an idea that she can’t stop thinking about, one that involves changing a few things about herself. She’s setting her sights on a more glamorous life, but it’s going to take all of her focus. At least that way she won’t have to watch her friends moving so far ahead.


roots

Jo is spending the summer at her family’s beach house, working as a busgirl and bonding with the older, cooler girls she’ll see at high school come September. She didn’t count on a brief fling with a cute boy changing her entire summer. Or feeling embarrassed by her middle school friends. And she didn’t count on her family at all. . .

leaves


Ama is not an outdoorsy girl. She wanted to be at an academic camp, doing research in an air-conditioned library, earning A’s. Instead her summer scholarship lands her on a wilderness trip full of flirting teenagers, blisters, impossible hiking trails, and a sad lack of hair products.
It is a new summer. And a new sisterhood. Come grow with them.

Kiwi Magazine Review

This is the new generation of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and these girls do not disappoint. Each character is rich and complex, struggling with family, friends and future as she leaves middle school behind. This book will be the first in a series of three, following the wildly popular Sisterhood series. Expect some of the same themes, but don’t expect any pants.

Congrats to Cindy for winning this title.

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Taking Care of Your “Girls”: A Breast Health Guide for Girls, Teens and In-Betweens by Marisa Weiss MD and Isabel Friedman

Three Rivers Press, 2008

Recommended readers – tweens and teens

Cautions: All clear

Extras: Fabulous website www.takecareofyourgirls.com

Description from publisher

Dr. Weiss and her 18-year-old daughter, Isabel, have co-authored Taking Care of Your “Girls:” A Breast Health Guide for Girls, Teens, and In-Betweens, published by Random House. They talk candidly about breast development and breast health — separating myths from facts and detailing everyday steps to improve breast health and reduce breast cancer risk over a lifetime.

Kiwi Magazine Review

Bra-vo! Thank you, Marisa Weiss and Isabel Friedman, for creating a much-needed, get-‘em-started-early, breast friends guide for girls. Since 70% of breast cancer cases have no known cause, teaching girls early in life to know their breasts, watch for changes and take care of themselves is long overdue. Not only is the information helpful and empowering, it is presented via question/answers, call-out boxes and very girl-friendly language. Buy this book for every girl you know.

Bra-vo!

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